ECA responds to Energy Security Strategy

ECA responds to Energy Security Strategy

Secure skills base and energy efficiency essential to fulfilling ambitions

Leading electrotechnical trade body ECA has responded to the Government’s Energy Security Strategy.

While ECA broadly supports the Government’s ambitions for solar and wind power, we urge Government to focus first on energy efficiency, retrofitting our aging housing stock, and creating the right conditions for upskilling the electrotechnical workforce.

ECA Energy Solutions Advisor Luke Osborne said:

“The quickest route to energy security is to reduce our energy use by retrofitting our aging housing stock. By creating better incentives for energy efficient buildings, such as a home insultation scheme and an expansion of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include other low carbon, energy saving solutions, consumers would see an immediate reduction in fuel bills.

“These are solutions that are available now and can make a difference now.

“Boosting oil and gas is not an acceptable short-term measure – energy efficiency is. The notion that we can delay our switch to low carbon energy by burning more fossil fuels in the interim is misguided, especially in light of the IPCC’s latest climate change report.”

ECA Director of Workforce and Public Affairs Andrew Eldred said:

“Measures to encourage electricians to upskill are urgently needed as they are essential to delivering the ambitions set out in this strategy. Without a properly trained and qualified workforce, the UK cannot meet its low-carbon energy needs.

“We urge the Government to listen to the electrotechnical sector and focus its drive on giving competent firms and individuals the confidence to invest in low-carbon upskilling, as a starting point on our way to energy independence and Net Zero.”

Jay Parmar, Chief Executive of the JIB, said:

“The JIB welcomes the arrival of the Government’s eagerly anticipated Energy Strategy. The shift away from non-renewable energy sources towards a more sustainable future is vital if we are to meet the target of net zero carbon and affordable energy by 2050.

“The JIB will continue to work with industry bodies to ensure there is a trained, competent and skilled workforce in place to deliver a greener built environment.”

The new strategy seeks to make the UK more self-sufficient by boosting domestic energy production. The Government has said that, under the strategy, up to a quarter of the UK’s energy needs could be met using nuclear power by the year 2050. There’s also an ambition for offshore wind to power all UK homes by 2030.