King's Speech welcomed by UK renewables industry

House of Lords Chamber. Image by REA (www.r-e-a.net)

The King’s Speech, outlining the new UK government’s legislative plans for the coming months, has been welcomed by renewable energy industry organisations.

“It is particularly welcome to see the announcement of a Planning and Infrastructure Bill, to ensure that essential infrastructure can be deployed without delay," said RenewableUK’s executive director of policy Ana Musat.

The speech also includes a plan to introduce a bill to set up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power company based in Scotland, aimed at accelerating investment in renewable energy such as offshore wind.

“Ensuring this institution works well alongside the National Wealth Fund and other financial institutions will be essential to enable the private sector to mobilise the finance required to deliver the energy transition: in offshore wind alone, GBP 100 billion of private investment will be needed to deliver Labour’s target of 60 GW by 2030,” Ana Musat also commented.

The REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology) highlighted green energy related legislation featured in the King’s Speech, including the Great British Energy Bill to establish GB Energy, a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill that will support production and route to market, an English Devolution Bill to give more powers to local government over energy projects, a Planning and Infrastructure Bill to streamline the process for critical infrastructure, a Skills England Bill that will launch a new partnership with businesses, providers, unions, local and national government, and the National Wealth Fund Bill to invest in green industries to attract private sector investment.

“The REA welcomes the King’s Speech and the commitments made to pursue net zero and the clean energy transition. These proposals, following the flurry of activity we have seen since the new Government has taken office, mark a welcome step-change from what the sector has seen in recent years,” commented Trevor Hutchings, CEO of the REA.

The association said that while the legislation is welcome, the government should work together with the private sector to ensure alignment.

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