Energy Saving Trust welcomes ten point plan for a green industrial revolution

Today, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his ten point plan for a green industrial revolution, covering clean energy, low carbon transport and innovative technologies.

The plan is projected to help the UK reach its net zero emissions target by 2050. A total of £12 billion in government investment has been set aside to create and support up to 250,000 green jobs across the country.

Mike Thornton, Chief Executive, commented: “Energy Saving Trust welcomes the government’s Ten Point Plan, which is a robust first step in the right direction to support the UK achieving a net zero society by 2050.

“We applaud the government’s ambition to invest more in zero emissions public transport, cycling and walking, as viable travel alternatives. Ending the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, and plug-in hybrids by 2035, is another positive measure. We continue to support the efforts to enable a fair and equitable transition to electric vehicles, through more consumer and local authority advice, vehicle grants and interest-free loans, making clean air and zero carbon emissions a near future reality.

“We are also encouraged by the extension to the Green Homes Grant scheme, which will drive jobs, cut carbon emissions and support communities through improving the energy efficiency of our homes.

“A vital issue in meeting the net zero challenge for homes is to scale up supply chains for measures such as heat pumps. If this challenge is to be met, clear, firm targets and long-term investment from government are crucial to provide the certainty of demand, which then allows the supply chain to invest. The extension to the Green Homes Grant scheme is a step in this direction but more will be needed in the future.”

The ten points included in the plan are:

1. Producing enough offshore wind to power every home, quadrupling how much the UK produces to 40GW by 2030.
2. Aiming to generate 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 for industry, transport, power and homes, and aiming to develop the first town heated entirely by hydrogen by the end of the decade.
3. Advancing nuclear as a clean energy source, across large scale nuclear and developing the next generation of small and advanced reactors.
4. Backing car manufacturing bases including in the West Midlands, North East and North Wales to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, and developing infrastructure to better support electric vehicles.
5. Making cycling and walking more attractive ways to travel and investing in zero-emission public transport.
6. Supporting the aviation and maritime industries to become greener through research projects for zero-emission planes and ships.
7. Making our homes and public buildings warmer and more energy efficient, with a target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028.
8. Developing carbon capture technology, with a target to remove 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030.
9. Planting 30,000 hectares of trees every year, while creating and retaining thousands of jobs.
10. Developing technologies needed to reach these new energy ambitions and make London the global centre of green finance.