The British plan for the country’s energy independence

Britain will announce today a plan to expand electricity production from nuclear reactors, but also from wind, trying to strengthen its energy independence in a period of rising prices, but also because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The plan will increase wind energy, nuclear reactors and solar power, while supporting domestic oil and gas production in the medium term, the government said, adding that 95% of the electricity generated by 2030, it should have a low carbon footprint.

Central to this plan is the generation of electricity from nuclear reactors with an ambition to increase production to 24GW by 2050. This target could cover about 25% of the estimated electricity demand, drastically increased from the 14% it covers today.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the plan would “increase economic and clean energy production, ensuring Britain’s energy efficiency for Britain”.

He said the same plan “will reduce our dependence on energy sources that are exposed to volatile international prices, which we can not control, so that we can have greater energy self-sufficiency at cheaper prices.”

The British government targets the production of more than 50GW of electricity from offshore wind farms by 2030. Electricity loads of more than 5GW can be generated by offshore production facilities. At the same time, there will be a new licensing cycle for oil and gas in the North Sea region, as well as a consultation on the rules of solar energy production.

Johnson had promised to announce the energy strategy a month ago, but its announcement was delayed due to disagreements over funding, as well as the reaction of some members of the opposition in parliament to the offshore wind farms.

This plan will not directly affect energy supply or the prices that have caused inflation in the UK to reach its highest level in 30 years. Increasing energy production from nuclear power plants, solar, wind and hydrogen will also help Britain move away from fossil fuels in the long run.

Energy prices rose last year as the global economy struggled to reopen after the pandemic. Prices rose again after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Unlike Germany, Britain is not dependent on Russian energy, with Russia accounting for 8% of oil demand and less than 4% of gas. However, competition effects are expected as Europe seeks alternative energy sources.

London announced yesterday that it will ban imports of Russian oil and coal from the end of the year, while it will gradually abolish the use of Russian gas as soon as possible.

Rising energy prices boosted bills by 54% in April, and industries such as glass, steel and chemicals say they can not compete when prices rise to such levels.

Gas plants generated 40% of Britain’s electricity in 2021, with wind power generating 20%, nuclear power plants 14%, while imports covered 9%, with the rest covered by bioenergy , the sun, but also coal.

The government has announced that it will proceed as soon as possible with the implementation of new nuclear programs, including the Wylfa nuclear power plant in Angles, Wales.

At the same time, a new service for the supervision of nuclear power plants (Great British Nuclear) will be set up, while eight new nuclear reactors will be delivered, at a rate of delivery, one per year, compared to the delivery of one reactor in a decade.

Nuclear power plants operating in Britain except one are scheduled to close by 2030, with the first nuclear power plant in more than 20 years (Hinkley Point C) expected to enter the grid in 2026, ten years behind the original programming of its operation.