Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Government plans to decarbonise power, crucial for low-carbon heating, face substantial delays.
Conclusion
Low-carbon heating will increase demand for electricity, but the government’s plans to decarbonise power have been delayed substantially. Heat pumps may change existing patterns around the demand for electricity, and DESNZ recognises that it needs to make sure the power system can manage peaks and troughs throughout the day. Low-carbon flexible sources of generation will be important to help manage a grid that is reliant on renewable energy, particularly offshore wind and solar electricity generation that is determined by the weather. The main technologies for this will be carbon capture, hydrogen power and long-duration energy storage, particularly needed during the winter months. DESNZ has, however delayed its delivery target to pull together the different plans for decarbonising power from December 2023 to mid-2024. We previously warned that the lack of an overarching delivery plan makes it difficult for DESNZ to understand the decisions and timings it must take to achieve its ambition to decarbonise the power sector by
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and has announced a Clean Power by 2030 target, appointing Chris Stark to lead a '2030 Mission Control' to accelerate delivery of critical clean energy infrastructure and resolve obstacles.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. ministers, and the department will inform the new Committee as soon as an implementation date is agreed. This government has announced a target of delivering Clean Power by 2030, as a key pillar of the mission to make the UK a Clean Energy Superpower. To support this effort, the Secretary of State of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has appointed Chris Stark to lead a 2030 Mission Control to spearhead a new approach to accelerate the delivery of critical, clean energy infrastructure. Mission Control has the mandate to lead bold action in collaboration with industry, Ofgem, and the Electricity System Operator to remove obstacles and identify and resolve issues as they arise. Further information on the approach will be announced in due course.