Offshore wind would not completely fill the energy gap
Date published:
Rachel Anderson, Assistant Director of Policy, latest column for the journal
I’m going to start this column by looking at the events of the past week. It’s hard to avoid phrases like blow hard, hot air, pressurised, blades and nuclear option. Now I know there are several things I could be talking about, but I can assure you none of what follows will relate to anyone’s current tax affairs, party investigations or the sound of knives sharpening in Westminster.
What I am talking about is the long-awaited Energy Security Strategy announced by the Prime Minister. We’ve been waiting for decisions from Government for a long time and it feels as though “events” elsewhere have forced action. Leaving aside the debates about where the fuel for our energy generation comes from, we have a looming energy gap in 2024 as old nuclear stations decommission and fossils phase out. Whilst we’ve made real progress on renewables, there is still a gap & a cold, calm, cloudy day pushes us very close to demand outstripping supply.
So, what does the document say and how might it affect the North East? The main focus is on the Nuclear option and 8 new power stations built on existing sites. Building new reactors adjacent to existing means, the skills, a ready and experienced workforce and much of the tertiary equipment is already there. A small nuclear station like Hartlepool contributes approximately £50 million a year to the local economy.
The strategy skirts around onshore wind. It’s obvious that offshore wind would not completely fill the energy gap – it is very important and can be done at scale (with huge benefits to Tees and Tyne) but it is just not enough. Onshore wind is potentially the most egalitarian, everyone has it so has the potential to see a turbine from their kitchen window (I can see one from mine). That doesn’t go down well with very planning sensitive backbenchers.
There is an opportunity for a policy reset if onshore does return but it will be a heck of a political fight 2 years out from an election. There is also a boost here for the manufacturers and we have more capacity in the UK than previously so there is a dividend there.
Hydrogen has real potential both in terms of transport and retrofitting domestic and commercial as well as industrial uses. We have an expanding hydrogen manufacturing capability on Teesside with the potential to significantly scale up.
What is lacking is any indication of solid funding for this energy list, it’s a solid investment and it is not a quick fix.
Maybe buy a few more candles just in case.