Commenting on the government's newly announced plans for energy security and net zero growth, Professor Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, says:
“The government’s energy security plan and net zero growth plan are an opportunity to address both the need for strengthened, joined up governance and long-recognised urgent, low regrets priority investment measures. We now need action to deliver these measures if we are to achieve our net zero objectives.
“We welcome the inclusion of a home insulation scheme in these plans, as home retrofit is a vital low-regrets measure that can reduce energy demand while improving people’s wellbeing. However, retrofit measures must be coupled with efforts to ensure that the skills, supply chains, governance and assurance mechanisms are in place if we are to succeed in future-proof UK housing.
“The issue of skills to support the net zero transition is continually missed from the conversation. Just as the demand for engineering skills is increasing within the key sectors of the future clean economy, the supply of engineering skills in the UK is failing to keep up with demand. New ways of learning and training must be developed locally and supported by individuals, employers, education and training providers. We urge government to implement the recommendations from the Green Jobs Taskforce.
“We would also like to see the introduction of a formal system of governance for translating high-level targets to national and local levels. A government delivery body, such as the Office for Net Zero proposed in the Skidmore Review, is needed to lead and coordinate climate strategies across different sectors and spheres of society. And urgent action is required if we are to achieve the vital goal of a fully decarbonised electricity grid by 2035. We agree with the objectives set out by Ofgem, addressing the scale and range of factors affecting the future development of our gas and electricity networks. Experts from our National Engineering Policy Centre are actively looking at the actions and barriers that need to be addressed to implement a net zero electricity grid.”
