Recommendation 4

Recent events, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the conflict involving Iran and the cost-of-living crisis, have increased the importance the public places on energy security including the physical security of energy 27 infrastructure which has been raised during the Committee’s inquiry sessions on energy resilience. We welcome the Government’s increasing focus on energy security as a rationale for the energy transition. The Government should continue to emphasise how transitioning to renewable energy enhances national energy security, reduces dependence on volatile international energy markets and strengthens the UK’s resilience to future price shocks and should clearly demonstrate that slowing the transition means prolonging Britain’s exposure to gas markets set by events in Ukraine and the Gulf. The Government should strengthen its commitment to the Clean Power 2030 mission in response to the Middle East crisis, and should say so. (Conclusion, Paragraph 19)