It’s no secret that the UK government is picking up the pace regarding its drive for a cleaner, eco-friendlier tomorrow. Hence, the Clean Growth Strategy.

The Clean Growth Strategy was assembled by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), but if you don’t have the time to read through it, we’ve covered the essentials here. Just read on for a summary of the strategy’s key points, and what they mean for UK homes and businesses.  

What is it?

Ten years ago, the UK presented the Climate Change Act. This was an important move across the world, as the UK subsequently became the first nation in the world to self-impose a legally binding carbon reduction target. And this was no small challenge — the UK aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels).

Will the UK achieve its target?

BEIS figures from March 2017 apparently show that the country is doing very well with regard to hitting its lofty target. Notably, overall carbon emissions having dropped by 42% since 1990. While this progress is encouraging, the government acknowledges that there is still plenty more work to be done — and that’s where proposals like the Clean Growth Strategy come in.

Will the Clean Growth Strategy truly help?

The Clean Growth Strategy is designed to accelerate ‘clean growth’ by decreasing releases of harmful pollutants. With that in mind, the two guiding objectives underpinning the strategy are:

• To meet domestic commitments at the lowest possible net cost.
• To maximise the social and economic benefits for the UK.

But how will the government do this? The government plans to roll out lower-carbon technologies around the country — while being careful not to increase costs in the process.

Key proposals of the Clean Growth Strategy’s?

These six areas will help cut all carbon emissions in the UK:

• Improving our homes (13% of UK emissions)
• Improving business and industry efficiency (25% of UK emissions)
• Accelerating the shift to low-carbon transport(24% of UK emissions)
• Leading the public sector (2% of UK emissions)
• Delivering clean, smart, flexible power (21% of UK emissions)
• Enhancing the benefits and value of our natural resources (15% of UK emissions)

All 50 pledges are here in this executive summary.

How will domestic and commercial customers be affected?

Everyone from homeowners to industry leaders will be helped to cut carbon emissions. A major focus will be reassessing the fuels we use for jobs like heating, cooking, and powering industrial and manufacturing processes – and embracing cleaner, greener alternatives.

Expect a boost in renewable technologies (e.g. heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar panels), as well as cleaner conventional fuels over detrimental ones. For example, for off-grid homes and businesses, the strategy sets out specific plans to phase out high-carbon forms of fossil fuels like oil. As the lowest-carbon conventional off-grid fuel, oil to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) conversions will play a key part in replacing oil in rural parts of the country.

Natural gas is affordable and accessible, as well as the lowest-carbon fossil fuel available — which will mean it will remain popular in the UK.

Flogas, which is a gas mains specialist, expects to see this part of its business continue to go from strength to strength. With more than three decades experience in the energy sector, Flogas expects that the ‘green gas’ phenomenon (natural gas injected with a proportion of environmentally friendly biogas) will rise in use as the Clean Growth Strategy takes hold.

What do people think about Clean Growth Strategy

There have many been many thoughts and comments regarding this great step into a green future. Lee Gannon, managing director of Flogas, said: “Through the publication of its Clean Growth Strategy, the government has made clear its intention to reduce carbon emissions from off-grid UK homes and businesses. Natural gas is affordable, versatile, widely available and – most importantly – emits significantly less carbon than the likes of coal and oil. As such, it will continue to play a central role as the UK works towards cleaning up its energy landscape. We look forward to working alongside policymakers and wider industry stakeholders to make the Clean Growth Strategy the success that it deserves to be.”

And it isn’t only just this gas company that appears behind the Clean Growth Strategy and the impact it will have in the UK. Trade body Oil & Gas UK also supports the strategy. Mike Tholen, its Upstream Policy Director, commented: “Oil & Gas UK welcomes the government’s commitment to technology in the strategy, especially with regards to carbon abatement measures such as carbon capture, usage and storage. Oil & Gas UK looks forward to working with the government to see how these technologies can further reduce emissions across the economy.”

For further information visit www.flogas.co.uk