Boris Johnson warned Kwarteng’s renewables drive would precipitate cost crisis and ‘ruin lives’ – Net Zero Watch

Posted: March 30, 2022 by oldbrew in Energy, government, net zero
Tags: , ,

Image credit: MIT


The unhealthy obsession with weather-dependent electricity generation is to be cranked up to new levels of absurdity if the climate-obsessed minister gets his way. The Telegraph says ‘England faces being carpeted with solar panels in net zero push’. No use on short grey winter days, but maybe OK on a fine day in summer when electricity demand is low anyway.
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Press release – Net Zero Watch

While the government is struggling to agree a new energy security strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng is reported to be proposing a tenfold expansion of solar power, a fivefold increase in offshore wind, and a threefold increase in onshore wind, as well as a small increase in the nuclear fleet.

Net Zero Watch’s deputy director, Andrew Montford said:

The capital cost alone would run to £10,000 per household. This is an insane proposal at a time when households are already struggling with a doubling of the cost of their energy bills.”

And Dr John Constable, Net Zero Watch’s director of energy said:

On top of the capital cost, Mr Kwarteng’s plan would cost billions of pounds of operating costs, and billions more to keep the grid functioning. This is not the kind of proposal a serious politician would put forward”.

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See also: UK minister aims to triple solar power capacity by 2030.

Comments
  1. oldbrew says:

    We’ll be expected to be content if they only implement half the bonkers proposals.

  2. Philip Mulholland says:

    Belief in an error does not make it true.

  3. Gamecock says:

    Kwarteng fiddles as Rome burns.

    Time for my periodic reminder: move your business to South Carolina while the best sites are still available.

    https://www.sccommerce.com/buildings-sites

  4. oldbrew says:

    “The UK could be wholly dependent on oil and gas imports within 15 years”

    The government has been criticised over lack of commitment to the oil and gas industry’s future
    30 March 2022

    “The UK could be wholly dependent on oil and gas imports within 15 years”


    – – –
    Someone else’s problem as far as this government is concerned?

  5. oldbrew says:

    Germany takes a different approach…

    German court rules bulldozing homes for coal is legal
    Updated today

    A state court in North Rhine-Westphalia has ruled in favour of German utility company RWE in a land dispute linked to expanding its Garzweiler lignite open-cast mine located in the German hamlet of Lützerath.
    . . .
    The farmland owner, which borders the open-cast mine, and two tenants had sought to stop RWE’s takeover of the property. Yet, coal is crucial for Germany to weather a potential stop in the supply of Russian gas as large amounts of coal power plants would be used to make up the shortfall.

    “Coal will play a crucial role,” explained Olaf Lies, the energy minister of Lower Saxony, on behalf of his 15 fellow energy ministers after consultations. “If we want to be more independent, we will have to operate with coal,” Lies said. [bold added]

    https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/german-court-rules-bulldozing-homes-for-coal-is-legal/

    Read it and weep, net zero fanatics – that’s you, UK gov.

  6. Saighdear says:

    So in response to RWE’s action, should we become “WOKE” and walk away from any dealings with RWE’s developments in the UK ? ( all in keeping with current levels of solidarity within Europe, you understand! )

  7. Gamecock says:

    ‘Yet, coal is crucial for Germany to weather a potential stop in the supply of Russian gas as large amounts of coal power plants would be used to make up the shortfall.’

    This assumes they have ‘large amounts of coal power plants.’ Britain has been closing theirs; Germany hasn’t? You can’t use coal in a gas plant.

  8. oldbrew says:

    Germany currently has around 45 GW of coal power capacity in place. While some has been turned off, part of it is being held in reserve to ensure the country’s security of supply.

    https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/germany-reactivates-coal-power-plants-amid-russian-gas-supply-threats/
    – – –
    When the going gets tough…
    https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/german-court-rules-bulldozing-homes-for-coal-is-legal/

  9. stpaulchuck says:

    Are these people truly insane, or are they being paid massive amounts to push this destructive, incompetent nonsense on the public?

  10. oldbrew says:

    Stuck in a rut of climate obsession…

    Boris Johnson horrified at onshore wind farm delays, sources say
    – Political correspondent

    Published 8 hours ago

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60952056