The Energy Secretary has taken a “common-sense decision” to build new gas-fuelled power stations in light of concerns for energy security.

The decision, in effect to create a ‘bridging mechanism’ until renewable energy can be better generated and stored, is certainly to be seen as a temporary fix as the Government wrestles with the conflict of meeting its net-zero targets and energy security.

The decision will be seen as a rescinding of some of its climate credentials, and its own press release it is at pains to emphasise the progress it has made: “No other major economy has done more when it comes to cutting emissions. The UK is the first major economy to cut its emissions by half since 1990, compared to the EU who have cut emissions by 30 per cent, the US not at all and China’s emissions are up by 300 per cent.”

The Government also insists that this plan keeps the UK on track to meet its net-zero targets and in line with the Climate Change Committee (CCC) recommendations.

The plan to build for gas is part of the wider strategy that includes the new North Sea oil and gas licences and investment in renewables.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “Our record on net zero speaks for itself – the latest stats show that we’re already halfway there, with greenhouse gas emissions 50 per cent lower than in 1990. But we need to reach our 2035 goals in a sustainable way that doesn’t leave people without energy on a cloudy, windless day.”

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