Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister Liz Truss provides temporary relief from the pain of spiralling energy costs but if we are to avoid more of the same later down the line, long term solutions are needed – and these must focus on the role of renewable energy, and not increasing the nation’s reliance on gas and oil or scrapping the levies which are supporting the UK’s transition to clean, green energy.
With this in mind, the energy price cap freeze should be viewed as a two-year “window of opportunity” for households to invest in the changes necessary to provide long term protection from rising bills. This could include measures such as putting solar panels on homes with storage batteries to ensure homeowners use more of the green energy they generate, or properly insulating buildings so less energy is wasted. This will give people more control over their energy use and their costs, significantly reducing the impact of future rises.
While the six-month hiatus in energy price cap rises is not as generous for businesses, the same “window of opportunity” exists. Six months is ample time to review your energy needs and to look at what renewable or energy efficient technologies could be used to help bring down costs and carbon emissions. Investment for the future is key.
It is clear from the plans outlined today that renewables are well and truly on the back burner, in favour of quick fixes to the energy crisis in the here and now. But it is renewables which can create jobs and grow the economy through challenging and difficult times; it is renewables which will help the UK meet its net zero targets; and it is renewables which can reduce the energy cost burden for homes and businesses.
If it is bold moves the Prime Minister wanted to make, then surely today’s announcement should have been a giant step towards championing green energy and sustainable solutions to the nation’s energy crisis.
