In June 2019 the UK Government declared a climate emergency and set a statutory target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This means that the UK will need to produce no more greenhouse gases than it removes from the atmosphere.
To achieve this target, the UK will need to make significant changes to its energy system. Currently, the UK relies heavily on fossil fuels for its energy needs. However, fossil fuels are a major source of greenhouse gases.
The Government has therefore set out a plan to decarbonise the UK’s energy system. This plan includes a significant increase in the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. Notwithstanding recent discussions at Government level about delaying some of the interim targets, they remain committed to delivering on the overall 2050 deadline.
As a result, we are seeing an ever-increasing number of energy projects being proposed. Despite the motivation behind them being to deliver environmental benefits, these projects are often controversial, as they can have a significant impact on the environment in other respects. However, the Government has made it clear that these projects are essential to achieving net zero carbon emissions.
In line with this, the recent update to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (September 2023) incorporated amendments to speed up the approval and delivery of on shore wind projects. The Government also consulted earlier in 2023 on revised National Planning Statements (NPS’s) for energy infrastructure. These NPS’s will set out the Government’s policy on energy projects and how they should be assessed.
The Future of Energy Projects
The future of energy projects in the UK is likely to be shaped by the Government’s net zero carbon target. In order to achieve that target, we will inevitably see a significant increase in the number of energy projects being proposed in the coming years.
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Overall Conclusions
The 2023 NPPF and proposed updates to the NPS’s demonstrate the Government’s commitment to net zero carbon by 2050 and the anticipated increased number of renewable energy projects that are expected.
These projects will always likely be controversial and spark debate. However, the benefits of such projects are very clear and have the full support from the Government – so it is about careful design and putting forward a strong case to justify the project.
