Government urged to cut energy waste

An influential left-leaning think tank has said the government should clamp down on the nation's waste of power.

 

The Institute for Public Policy Research wants industry, the public sector and households to cut energy use to help lower carbon emissions and reduce the need for new nuclear power stations.

 

In a new report the IPPR said concerns about security of supply have dominated the debate about the UK's future energy mix and focused attention on nuclear power.

 

However the think tank has calculated that almost four times more energy could be saved by using it more efficiently over the next two decades than could be generated by replacing all the UK's nuclear reactors over the same period.

 

The government is expected to announce the outcome of its energy review this week, but the IPPR says that instead of arguing over which technologies to use to produce more energy, priority should be given to exploiting the huge potential that exists to reduce energy use. 

 

Saving that much energy would require doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement seen in the last 30 years.

 

That would be the most cost-effective way of filling any 'energy gap' caused by phasing out existing nuclear reactors, while also reducing carbon emissions, tackling fuel poverty and helping UK business stay competitive.

 

The think tank also wants to see the energy review make a firm commitment to a target of achieving at least 20 per cent of electricity production from renewable sources by 2020, something that is currently only an 'aspiration'.

 

Simon Retallack, head of IPPR's climate team, said: "We have allowed ourselves to be sidetracked by the debate over nuclear power.

 

"We should be minimising the energy gap before trying to fill it. The more energy-efficient businesses and households can be, the less vulnerable the economy will be to the impact of rising fossil fuel prices and potential threats to the security of supply from exporter countries.

 

"That is an important consideration given that oil prices have more than doubled in the last three years and much of the world's proven oil and gas reserves are concentrated in a handful of countries."

 

"Just as people are rightly furious about the colossal waste of water that's taking place in regions of the country that face drought conditions, we should be up in arms over the routine, large-scale waste of energy that's taking place.

 

"Waste on this scale is inexcusable when the supply of energy is becoming more insecure and we face the urgent need to prevent dangerous climate change."

 

Commenting on the report, Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said: "Nuclear is a tried, tested and failed technology with demonstrably higher costs than the renewable alternatives.

 

"This report's recommendations to use less energy is yet another endorsement of the approach advocated by the Liberal Democrats.

 

"However, under Labour, energy use has been going up and up, year by year, with no sign of ending.

 

"The most sensible way to ensure security of supply and avoid astronomical expense is to use energy more efficiently. Apart from onshore wind farms, investment in energy efficiency is the most cost effective energy strategy."