DIGITAL INNOVATION
UK STEPS UP NET ZERO GOALS
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• The UK government will publish a new Smart Systems Plan , jointly with Ofgem , in the Spring along with an Energy Data Strategy , and aims to launch a national energy data catalogue prototype service by summer
• Six projects have been awarded a share of £ 8 million in government funding in a bid to create the ‘ world ’ s first ’ net zero industrial zone by 2040
• With half of the UK ’ s nuclear power plants set to retire by 2025 , it is clear renewables generation will need to increase rapidly to meet the country ’ s increasing electricity needs .
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a major £ 160 million investment in wind power last October , in a bid to fuel every home in the country with renewable energy within 10 years .
SolarPower Europe , in its latest outlook , sees additions in a medium scenario of 22.4GW in 2021 . Capping greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power stations is another key focus , with around 19 large-scale Carbon Capture and Storage ( CCS ) facilities in operation globally .
The biggest names are firmly on board . Amazon is adding 1,800 Mercedes electric delivery vehicles to the company ’ s fleet for its European operations and the e-commerce giant is currently running 91 renewable energy projects worldwide , which together have the capacity to generate over 2,900MW and deliver over 7.5mn MWh of energy each year .
China is aiming to be net zero by 2060 , which is laudable , although its population is still rising and expected to peak at 1.44 billion by 2029 , with all the associate energy needs . The US , Japan , Australia and the UK want to get there 10 years earlier .
The net zero challenge is to tie it all together ; to make good on macro government policies , deliver viable green corporate strategies and ensure initiatives filter down practically to every consumer .
FEBRUARY 2021