Two parliamentary debates have seen Labour reiterate support for publicly-controlled heat and electricity sources as zero emission grid deadline looms.
The UK has just five years to transition away from its remaining fossil fuel-powered energy sources and fully switch to renewables.
On 4th February, Labour MP Catherine Atkinson emphasised the importance of community owned energy projects in achieving this goal. Darley Abbey Community Energy, which is currently working towards a 100kW Archimedes screw water turbine facility in Derbyshire, was among the schemes she cited.
‘But there are hurdles in place, including planning permission, insurance costs and the need for up-front capital,’ Atkinson told the House of Commons, explaining the project could eventually power every business located at the nearby Darley Abbey Mills business hub.
‘We are absolutely determined that, as part of Great British Energy, community energy will be massively expanded,’ said Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband. ‘That was our manifesto commitment, and that is what we will deliver. Honourable members around the chamber have asked how their community can benefit, and community energy will be an essential part.’
However, critics – including Liberal Democrat Pippa Heyling, have scorned the government’s existing £10million community energy fund due to its size. Oversubscribed and underfunded, calls have been made to increase financing and reassure groups at the beginning of their community energy journey that there would be more money available further down the line. Questions have also been raised by the new centre-left Co-Operative Party about how much effort is being made to work with Scotland, which has a separate energy policy to England and Wales.
‘Because of the devolution settlement, our main contact will be with the Scottish government, who have their relationship with Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, but we are determined that local government across the UK will help drive this forward, and will have the capacity to support communities in doing so,’ said energy minster Michael Shanks.
The Great British Energy Bill was introduced to Parliament in July 2024, setting out a provision to create a publicly owned energy company which could add momentum to low carbon and clean energy deployment. On 11th February, a new amendment was added committing to bringing community energy schemes into this remit.
While ownership would remain with the groups behind each development, the UK-controlled Great British Energy would work closely with these existing and new organisations to encourage and facilitate more project that benefit communities and localised solutions. Representatives from Labour, the Green Party, Liberal Democrats and the Co-Op Party.
The news comes at a time when the world’s second largest carbon emitter is retreating from conversations around net zero. Earlier this week, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright labelled the UK’s net zero target of 2050 as a ‘sinister goal’ which had ‘not delivered any benefits’, and instead had simply created ‘tremendous costs’. He also admitted that his number one goal was for the American government to ‘get out of the way’ of oil, gas and coal production. In comparison, China – which produces more greenhouse gases than any other nation on the planet – spent $940billion on clean energy infrastructure in 2024. Global fossil fuel investment is currently $1.12trillion.
Image: Mike Erskine / Unsplash
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