The United Kingdom recently announced a new energy security strategy that will accelerate the development of nuclear, wind, solar and hydrogen energy, and support the country's domestic oil and gas production.
Development of new and old energy sources
According to the strategy, the UK will focus on the development of nuclear energy. By 2050, the installed capacity of nuclear power generation will increase from the current 7 GW to 24 GW, which will meet about 25% of the country's electricity needs.
In order to enable new nuclear power projects to obtain substantial financial support, the British government will also set up a new agency called "British Nuclear Energy" and launch a £120 million future nuclear power support fund. From next year until 2030, Britain plans to approve the construction of one nuclear reactor a year, for a total of eight.
In addition to nuclear energy, offshore wind power is also the focus of development. The UK has raised its 2030 target for installed offshore wind capacity from 40 GW to 50 GW, of which about 5 GW will come from floating offshore wind projects in deep waters. In 2021, the UK has an installed offshore wind capacity of 11 GW.
The UK government will simplify the approval process for new offshore wind farms, reducing the approval time from four years to one year, significantly reducing the time it takes for new projects to enter the construction phase. In addition, the government will consult with communities supporting onshore wind projects who want to incorporate new onshore wind infrastructure in exchange for lower guaranteed tariffs.
By 2035, the UK's installed solar power capacity could increase fivefold from the current 14 gigawatts. Low-carbon hydrogen capacity in the UK will double to 10 gigawatts by 2030, at least half of which will be green hydrogen produced from excess offshore wind, providing more clean energy for UK industry, transport and heating.
In addition to new energy sources, the UK will revive North Sea oil and gas production, with plans to issue licences for new North Sea oil and gas projects this autumn. The United Kingdom believes that oil and gas are important to the energy transition and energy security, and that the use of domestically produced natural gas has a lower carbon footprint than imported natural gas.
Seeking energy independence
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We are developing a bold plan to accelerate the production of clean, safe and affordable energy over the next 10 years. With global gas prices hitting new highs, the UK needs to accelerate the transition to cleaner, cheaper energy Homegrown energy transition to protect the country’s future from soaring energy prices.”
The plan is key to weaning the UK off expensive fossil fuels and diversifies the UK's energy sources to ensure long-term energy security.
The British government said that by 2030, the British energy security strategy will attract 130 billion US dollars of private investment in the new energy industry and create 480,000 jobs.
The offshore wind industry will create 90,000 jobs by 2028, 30,000 more than previously expected; the solar industry will create 10,000 jobs by 2028, double previous expectations; The energy industry will create 12,000 jobs, 3,000 more than previously estimated.
Quasi Kwarten, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: "Expanding cheap renewable energy capacity and building new nuclear projects, while maximising North Sea oil and gas production, will ensure the UK's energy independence for years to come. The best way."
Cut home energy bills
In the near term, the British government will provide consumers with a package of about $12 billion to help British households cope with the rising cost of living, including a £150 tax relief for millions of households from April, and from October onwards. £200 off electricity bills for electric households.
"Increasing supply of renewable energy is the only way to keep energy prices in check," Kwarten said. "The UK already leads the world in offshore wind and should go further and faster to make clean, cheap energy the norm."
Previously, the British Prime Minister and ministers held talks with representatives of oil, gas, wind energy, nuclear energy and other industries. Greg Hands, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: "The UK government will continue to work with the energy industry in the coming weeks to deliver on its energy development commitments as quickly as possible."