Prepared for Energy Rationing to Achieve Net Zero Emissions?
UK Pushes Towards Renewable Energy, Requiring Consumers to Adjust Energy Usage Habits
In a bid to decarbonize Britain by 2030, the Labour government is promoting the adoption of a renewables-powered grid. This transition, however, necessitates changes in consumer and business energy usage patterns to prevent overwhelming the grid during periods when renewable sources cannot meet demand. The concept behind this transformation is known as 'demand side response,' which involves persuading households and organizations to spread their power consumption throughout the day, thereby avoiding peak demand periods.
This energy rationing initiative appears to be a top priority within the energy sector, with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) advocating for increased 'consumer and demand flexibility.' Energy suppliers are also on board, as Northern Powergrid calls for a 'demand and flexibility revolution.' Octopus Energy offers incentives for customers to avoid peak time usage, while Ovo Energy enters customers into prize draws if they reduce their mains electricity usage between 5 pm and 7 pm on weekdays.
The Financial Times' chief features writer, Henry Mance, offers suggestions on energy conservation, praising the health benefits of cold showers and encouraging the habit of turning off lights around the home, although these actions may not significantly reduce energy bills.
One may question the need for energy rationing in light of affordable alternatives to Net Zero goals, such as the rapid construction of Small Modular Reactors. The historic ambivalence of Labour towards nuclear power seems to favor energy rationing instead, despite several EU countries swinging back behind nuclear power. Another concern is the scalability of batteries, with NESO advocating for a significant increase in battery use but acknowledging that the growth is measured in capacity, not electricity delivery. Given that UK electricity production in 2023 was more than 285,000GWh, the current battery usage barely scratches the surface.
In truth, energy rationing is not merely a consequence of a misguided energy policy, but rather an objective for some green ideologues. Since 1989, Amory Lovins, America's anti-nuclear godfather, has championed the idea that the best energy is the energy we don't use, not megawatts, but 'negawatts.' This ideology permeates most government reports on Net Zero, which seek not to meet current electricity demand with alternative, renewable sources, but to decrease energy consumption and usage across the board.
Persuading Britons to reduce their energy usage may prove challenging, and it should be. Instead, Britons should demand more energy, not less. The real solution, it is argued, is to abandon this disastrous agenda altogether.
James Woudhuysen, visiting professor of forecasting and innovation at London South Bank University, offers insight into these issues. He tweets at @jameswoudhuysen.
- Debates about energy consumption and production in the UK extend beyond just general-news, delving into identity politics as some green ideologues advocate for reducing energy use, while others argue for increased energy production.
- The push towards renewable energy in the UK, such as the energy rationing initiative, is part of the broader politics of identity, with some advocating for energy conservation to align with a greener identity, while others criticize this approach.
- In the midst of discussions about cancel culture in various social and political spheres, the politics of energy consumption in the UK remains a contentious issue, with some calling for more energy, not less, and others being accused of sabotage for questioning the need for energy rationing.
