The CCC’s expertise and impartiality is critical to the UK’s successes in reducing national carbon emissions, while providing evidence-based recommendations for additional action to complete our journey to Net Zero by 2050. The CCC’s reporting alongside the commercial and sector-specific insight provided by BEAMA, the trade association for energy infrastructure and systems, will equip the new government with the data and insights necessary to develop positive policies that can facilitate industrial growth, decarbonisation, and energy security.
Our 200 member companies at BEAMA manufacture the critical elements of Net Zero buildings and provide the building blocks for a clean, flexible electricity system. These elements include electric heating and energy efficiency technologies, smart meters and flexibility solutions, electrical systems for buildings, and electricity networks products. Net Zero wouldn’t be possible without the contribution of our members, so it is imperative that we act collectively to support the rollout of these key low carbon products and enabling technologies.
Moreover, and in line with the national need for economic growth, we must prioritise UK industrial development to ensure we have the capability to deliver these essential technologies. Our members are eager and ready to invest and grow, however, they are up against a global race for investment, skills, and materials. Our members have expressed that policy and regulation are the most important factors in their companies’ investment decisions, so we are hopeful for a more consistent and robust policy landscape to stimulate more activity in our industry.
The CCC’s report emphasises this need for consistency, while making specific recommendations for the government to establish a solid foundation for decarbonisation and economic growth. These recommendations include cheaper electricity, targets for domestic heat decarbonisation and removing planning barriers for low carbon technologies, all of which can greatly improve the user benefits of low carbon heat. The CCC also advocates for electrification of industrial heat, a skills strategy and adequate funding for renewable energy auctions.
Additional specific measures would further accelerate the UK’s Net Zero growth. As well as the deployment of heat pumps, we need to capitalise on other low carbon electric heating products on the market that would benefit from the lower electricity price advocated by both the CCC and BEAMA. Rollout of low carbon heating should also be accelerated by an expanded and equitable Boiler Upgrade Scheme and VAT relief for innovative technologies like heat batteries and modern high heat retention storage heaters. Support for a wider range of technologies would give consumers more options to choose the right low carbon heating system for their home, stimulating demand and making for a better functioning market.
We welcome the CCC’s call to action for the rapid and full implementation of the Transmission Acceleration Action Plan. Good progress has been made to identify barriers and opportunities for electricity networks, and we hope that the strong focus on industry engagement with ministerial support will continue. We also look forward to the National Infrastructure Commission’s report into electricity distribution networks, providing further actionable recommendations for government.
In the months before the election, officials prepared an assessment of skills gaps for key energy industry sectors, while the new Government has pledged that its industrial strategy will boost growth and supply chains. BEAMA is aligned with the CCC on the need to tackle both skills and manufacturing supply chains, not only as necessary enablers to the transition, but also as opportunities to seize co-benefits such as a higher skilled workforce and economic confidence. These should be complemented by new or updated public institutions that have been promised by the government. For example, the National Wealth Fund should be used to support additional innovation and, critically, commercialisation of technologies.
Without a doubt, we need to act urgently. The CCC’s report notes that almost all indicators of progress are off track. Yet, it also shares BEAMA’s optimism that decisive steps now can lead to achieving Net Zero goals. That would also mean securing the industrial benefits and seizing the opportunity for the UK to become a global manufacturing powerhouse. The key electrification products we need are already on the UK market, so with a clear government strategy and collaboration with industry, a successful Net Zero transition is there for the taking.
Yselkla Farmer is CEO of BEAMA
The Engineer - Report calls for Industrial Strategy and Minister for Manufacturing
A good point but I think Diogenes (after finding an honest man) should look for a suitable person in the government And I have often thought that...