Is a lack of energy infrastructure investment putting the UK's net zero goal at risk?

With an ambitious target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the UK faces the arduous task of transforming its energy landscape. But as the 2050 deadline looms, concerns over the UK's capability to support this energy transition are becoming increasingly apparent.

Is the UK on track to meet its 2050 net zero goal?

The UK reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 49% between 1990 and 2022. That’s no mean feat, averaging approximately 15 tonnes per year. At this pace, it would take another 22 years to reach the UK’s target of reaching net-zero emissions. That’s six years earlier than the 2050 deadline.

But can the UK continue reducing emissions at such a pace?

A report published by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) in March 2023 raised significant concerns. It found that the UK is currently on track to miss its interim target (of reducing emissions by 57% by 2030) by 6%.

Why is that?

Much of the previous years’ reduction came during the 2010s when most of the UK’s 13 coal-fired power stations operating in the 1990s were closed down. And it will be difficult to find similarly sized opportunities to reduce emissions.

The UK government plans to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, reduce emissions from agriculture by 25% before 2030, and invest in carbon capture and storage technology. But these measures may not be enough to meet the 2050 target. The government's most recent climate strategy, announced in March 2023, was labelled "half-baked" by critics, who argue that more comprehensive, wide-ranging and better-funded measures are necessary to successfully navigate the UK's journey to carbon neutrality.

Infrastructure challenges

As well as needing to reduce emissions, the UK faces a glaring infrastructure deficiency.

The electricity grid wasn’t designed to cope with the large-scale integration of renewable energy, for example. And since renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are intermittent, they don’t always generate electricity when needed. We need a more robust grid system, as well as investment in large-scale battery storage technologies to harness and supply renewable energy reliably.

Another challenge is the lack of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. There simply aren’t enough public charging points. Some areas of the country remain severely underserved, and most people don’t have access to a home charger. This is a major barrier to people switching to electric vehicles.

As we’ve mentioned in other articles, much of the UK's housing stock is energy inefficient. And this is a major source of emissions, with homes accounting for around 21% of the UK's total carbon emissions. So improving the energy efficiency of homes could help to significantly reduce emissions as well as save people money on their energy bills.

Does the UK’s government have an effective plan?

The UK faces several infrastructure challenges in its journey to net zero, including:

• Upgrading the electricity grid to cope with the large-scale integration of renewable energy.
• Developing a nationwide network of charging points for electric vehicles.
• Improving the energy efficiency of homes.

In its Net Zero Growth Plan, published in March 2023, the government committed to investing £15 billion in upgrading the electricity grid by 2025. The plan outlines the construction of new transmission lines and substations, as well as an overhaul of existing infrastructures to enhance efficiency and reliability.

The government also set an ambitious target of installing 600,000 public charging points by 2025. Achieving this goal will require considerable investment, and the government says it’s collaborating with the industry to pioneer new technologies that will make charging points more affordable and available.

The government set a target of installing 600,000 public charging points by 2025. This will require a significant investment in infrastructure, and the government says it’s working with the industry to develop new technologies that can make charging points more affordable and accessible.

They also set a target of ensuring all UK homes have an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of C or better by 2035. This will require a significant investment in insulation, heating systems and other energy-efficiency measures. The government also says it’s working with the industry to develop new technologies and financial incentives that can help homeowners to make their homes more energy-efficient.

But while all these initiatives are a good start, critics say it’s not enough. They argue that the strategy over-relies on unproven technologies and doesn't sufficiently address emissions in the short term. The National Audit Office described the government's approach as "piecemeal".

Solving the UK’s infrastructure challenges

Many reputable organisations have deemed the UK’s net zero targets ‘at risk’, including the Climate Change Committee and Ofgem. So it’s clear that the UK government must reassess its plans.

To improve the UK’s chances of meeting its 2050 net zero target, we think the government should consider:

• Providing more funding so that progress can be made more quickly.
• Focusing on proven technologies to increase the likelihood of success.
• Prioritising immediate action to reduce the negative impacts of climate change.

Fortunately, it’s not just the government that can influence our journey to net zero. Businesses and regular people have a role to play too.

At Snugg, we’re doing our bit to help reduce the environmental impact of the UK’s 25 million homes. And many businesses are working hard to reduce the impact of other areas of the economy.

To see if you could make your home greener, get your free energy efficiency plan from Snugg.