British Academy blog from Jane Davidson prior to Energy debate on 14/10/15
The UK has an unusual relationship with energy policy and delivery. On the one hand, we have the most liberalised energy provision in Europe, with energy generation having been sold to the market two decades ago – mostly to other countries’ national providers; on the other hand, the UK Government retains control of energy policy to have ‘a single market and regulatory system’ and a ‘unified planning regime’. In reality that disappeared in a puff of smoke when differential devolution of powers to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales took place in 1999. Interestingly, in the sixteen years since devolution there has been no serious discussion across the four nations about how to optimise energy generation – and particularly renewable generation - in the devolved context.
The four countries of the UK now have very different energy consenting powers. Scotland has seized the opportunity with a clear policy focused on renewable energy, using its planning consenting powers and its ability to offer Renewable Obligation Certificates to developers. It has ambitions to be providing 100% carbon neutral energy by 2020 and already produces 26.9% of the UK’s renewable energy.
Wales by contrast only produces a 7.9% contribution. It has the least logical energy settlement of the four countries and there are probably only a handful of people outside politics who know that Wales’ energy powers are only up to 50 megawatts on land (about 10 big turbines) and only 1 megawatt at sea (not even a demonstration project). Since the key driver of the development of energy infrastructure projects is a long-term and stable regulatory environment, it is understandable that the economic opportunities from renewable energy, which Wales has in abundance, have gone north to Scotland.
Energy is contentious. Every source has a negative aspect, whether that be visual (wind/solar), toxic (nuclear), contribution to climate change (fossil fuels) or untried (fracking). Yet, as a society we continue to want more energy. Whilst we might understand intellectually the consequences of continued fossil fuel burning on our current and future climate, governments are concerned at all costs not to interrupt supply to a society dependent on electrically charged technology.
A resilient response to such a challenge would be to have a grand plan for maximising renewable energy across the UK and educating the public about energy efficiency. Wales has great scope to develop further its renewable energy resources as part of its commitment to resilience and living within environmental limits under its new world leading Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 which requires all public services to take account of the needs of future generations in all policy making. However, the agreed devolution of enhanced Welsh energy consents up to 350mw on land and sea will need to wait for a new Government of Wales Act to be implemented and no date has currently been set.
Wales has renewable sources in abundance with waves, tides, water and wind being amongst the best in Europe. What is universally agreed as a major economic opportunity for Wales that could contribute towards the wealth, resilience and sustainability of the nation, is currently in limbo, particularly since the recent shock FIT reduction announcement by the UK Government. However, Wales is still an industry leader with the largest off shore wind farm in the world, Gwynt y Mor, and is on the threshold of also being the world leader in tidal energy with the innovative Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project currently in the system. Wales’ energy fuelled an industrial revolution 200 years ago and can again in the future with newer, greener technologies. The ‘Zero Carbon Britain’ work led by a team at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales has demonstrated unequivocally that, with the right UK Government backed policies and investments, we could achieve low or zero carbon emissions before the second half of the century with existing technology and without harming economic or social development. If Germany and Sweden can do it, surely we can too?
The British Academy session in Swansea on 14th October 2015 will look at how we connect the moral, financial and economic decisions that we need to make about the costs of generating energy; what influences people to change their energy behaviour and how far we can create alternative models of generating energy locally. This debate is hugely important for all our futures and what demands we make of our governments, particularly in the run up to the UN global conference on climate change in Paris this December. As John Rawls the American philosopher said, ‘Do unto future generations what you would have past generations do unto you’. Come along and have your say.