The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has called upon Ministers to accelerate the uptake of low-carbon and renewable sources.

In its first ever National Infrastructure Assessment, the NIC said its analysis shows previous assumptions that it is expensive to switch to greener sources for the country's energy needs are not necessarily correct.

"In fact, making this switch towards low-carbon and renewable sources for both the country's power and heating, combined with a move towards electric vehicles, would mean the customer of 2050 would pay the same in real terms for their energy as today," the NIC stated.

However, Chairman Sir John Armitt warned this transformatoon is only possible if decisions are taken now by the Government, such as continuing to invest in low cost renewable technologies, such as wind and solar, so that these provide at least half the country's generating capacity by 2030, as well as ramping up efforts to improve the energy efficiency of the UK's buildings and enabling a rapid switch to electric vehicles.

With around 30% of the UK's electricity coming from renewable sources, the NIC's assessment recommends Minister take steps to increase this to a minimum of 50% in 2030.

The organisation also cautions against rushing to build multiple new nuclear power stations as the cost of these technologies is far more likely to fall in the longer term, and at a faster rate. As such, the NIC recommends after the multi-billion Hinkley Point C in Somerset, the Government should agree support for only one more nuclear plant before 2025.

"This would give flexibility to move towards newer low-carbon energy sources in future, while at the same time maintaining the UK's nuclear supply chain and skills base," the NIC said.

-- Advertisement --

Chairman Sir John Armitt said: "Whether for cooking, lighting, keeping homes warm or electric cars on the road, where the UK's energy comes from will need to change radically over the coming decades if the UK is to meet its legally-binding climate change targets.

"If we act now we have a golden opportunity to make our country greener, and protect the money in the pockets of consumers long into the future – something few of us expected to be able to do.

"Ministers can seize this chance by investing in renewables and other low-carbon technologies so they become the main players in our energy system – something that was considered a pipedream as little as a decade ago. But they need to act now to realise the full potential of what can be achieved."

In its National Infrastructure Assessment, the NIC has recommended that;

• established technologies like wind and solar power be allowed to compete to deliver the overwhelming majority of the extra renewable electricity needed as overall demand increases, with measures to move them to the front of the queue for Government support

• Government sets out a clear pipeline, with dates and budgets, for future auctions to support renewables

• the feasibility of hydrogen and heat pumps as a low-carbon alternatives to oil and gas for heating be established, with community-level trials for hydrogen in place by 2021, and a trial to supply at least 10,000 homes by 2023

Other key recommendations include investing £3.8bn between now and 2030 to make improvements to the country's social housing stock, with trials of new approaches to drive up efficiency in owner-occupied properties and a clear plan for tightening regulations to improve energy efficiency in private rented homes.

"All this would be aimed at delivering a target rate by 2020 of installing 21,000 energy efficiency improvements a week, such as loft insulation, double glazing or wall insulation," the organisation stated.

Sir John Armitt added: "Whether it's electric or driverless cars, new energy sources, tackling the risk of climate change or preparing for the newest and fastest broadband speeds, the issues we've been considering profoundly affect people's everyday lives.

"The whole purpose of the UK's first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment is to think beyond the technologies of today and to ensure we can make the most of future innovations. It's why it's not just a one-off but something we will be repeating every five years to ensure we remain on the front foot.

"This is not some unaffordable wish-list of projects: it sets a clear direction for how to meet the country's future infrastructure needs, and makes a realistic assessment of what can and should be delivered within the stated aim of Ministers for steady and continued investment over the coming years."

To view the National Infrastructure Assessment, visit here.

(LM/MH)