Labour to decarbonize power by 2030

Labour has announced an ambitious plan to bring net zero electricity to Britain by 2030.

The announcement was made clear before the start of the party’s annual conference this week, and has already drawn some criticism. The current government’s target of 2050 has already drawn criticism, and with Labour moving the goal posts, some have wondered how on earth they are going to achieve this.

Why?

For starters there’s a shortage of undersea cables, the cables that would be needed to generate the vast amount of electricity from planned offshore wind farms. Then there are the other building requirements such as new pylons that will need to be built. Given Britain struggles to build anything nowadays one has to wonder if the pylons will be achieved.

Then there is the lack of tools such as carbon capture plants, hydrogen power generation and small modular nuclear reactors. All of which would need to be hurriedly brought in, which given the UK’s byzantine bureaucracy is unlikely.

However, Labour is not giving up hope. 

Shadow Energy man Ed Miliband has got the ball rolling with a planned strategy and there are rumours of talks occurring between the civil service and Labour. Assuming a Labour victory in the next general election of course.

Then there is the fact that Labour have begun formulating how they will achieve this new target, and are laying the groundwork for funding. Something the Tories failed to do until they were well in the mire.

Whether or not Labour achieve this target, they have thrown down the gauntlet, and now the Tories have to respond.