Some people have sounded the alarm that the UK government, having confirmed a £22 billion budget black hole inherited from their predecessors, is going to ape their austerity measures from circa 2010.
It’s hard to square that with…literally everything else the incoming government has said about energy and climate policy.
You may not like the strategy, but choosing where to put finite resources (and stop feeding White Elephants) is nothing if not strategic - as in, making choices that prioritise the must-have over the nice-to-have.
“Don’t do stupid sh*t” feels a lot more on point. Would I like to incur the wrath of Tom Holland and destroy the subterranean archeology building a tunnel near Stonehenge to save 10 minutes on my A303 journey to Cornwall or would I prefer to invest in solar and wind to get energy independence? [If you’re actually asking this question you’re seriously in the wrong meeting.]
To make sense of all of this we’ve got returning champion Adam Bell, Director of Policy at Stonehaven UK, to explain some of the recent moves. And we’re delighted to welcome Trevor Hutchings, 1-month-old CEO of the Renewable Energy Association (REA), in his maiden interview on Wicked Problems.
They explore the UK government's ambitious plans for ramping up renewable energy, infrastructure investments, and the strategic choices surrounding emerging technology and planning reforms. Bell and Hutchings offer insights into the new roles of the Crown Estate, planning process acceleration, potential investments in offshore wind, hydrogen, and small nuclear projects, as well as the importance of robust cross-departmental government collaboration and innovative industry leadership. Additionally, Hutchings emphasizes the significance of consumer engagement, skills development, and the broader economic implications of the renewable energy transition.
Thanks for listening. And enjoy our snippet of what we thought would be the right outro tune.
Will renewables deliver on Great British Energy's promise?