Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has called on the new government to urgently boost investment in domestic energy production, warning that climate goals will only be met through an “everything, everywhere, all at once” approach to energy transition.
The call comes after the Climate Change Committee’s latest progress report highlighted that, while net zero by 2050 is still within reach, much faster action is needed to transform how the UK powers homes, transport and industry.
OEUK has restated the case for backing British energy across the board – including renewables, oil and gas, hydrogen and carbon capture – over increasing reliance on imports.
“To keep on track with meeting the UK’s climate goals we need an approach to homegrown energy production which says we need everything, everywhere, all at once,” said Mike Tholen, OEUK’s policy and sustainability director.
The body emphasised the need to accelerate offshore wind, scale up hydrogen production, and advance carbon capture and storage.
OEUK also pointed to recent research showing the UK could double oil and gas production from the North Sea, with major benefits for energy security, emissions control and jobs.
A critical test will be the upcoming offshore wind Allocation Round 7 (AR7) in September, which OEUK said must be the “biggest ever”, awarding over 8GW of new licences if the UK is to meet its Clean Power 2030 target.
“We must choose a path where we reach our climate goals in a way that builds a modern industrial Britain,” said Tholen.
“This isn’t a choice about oil and gas versus renewables but about homegrown energy over energy which is increasingly imported.”
