EDITOR’S OPINION


No great expectations Chris Jones


Managing editor of Energy in Buildings & Industry


initiatives. Neither was there anything in the famous red box to encourage those who argue that the tax system could be used to incentivise a transition away from fossil fuels. However, there was a pledge


I


t's fair to say that expectations were not exactly running high, but Jeremy Hunt's spring budget did little to excite anyone who thinks that the


government needs to be doing more to address concerns about climate change and reducing carbon emissions. In fact, the words "climate change" did not pass the Chancellor's lips during his 65 minute long delivery to MPs, but perhaps the absence of any long-term vision might be forgiven in an administration that surely must realise that it is unlikely to be making any big decisions by the time we get to Christmas. While there was an announcement that the windfall tax on oil and gas companies would be extended for another year, said to raise an additional £1.5bn for the Treasury, there was no suggestion that this money might be used to invest in any renewable energy


to increase funding for the Green Industries Growth Accelerator (GIGA), a fund to support the expansion of "strong and sustainable clean energy supply chains" which, according to the Treasury, will bring the total amount of investment to £1.1bn. GIGA is designed to support the development of carbon capture technologies, offshore wind and electricity networks, and civil nuclear power. The nuclear


power industry was further boosted by a £160m deal to acquire two sites from Htiachi and support for the development of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology in the UK. Such moves, primarily with the aim to


allay concerns about the vulnerability of the country's energy security, will be controversial to many, but others might argue that the backing for nuclear power has come several years too late for it to start making a difference. With the Labour Party keen to


The words "climate change" did not pass the Chancellor's lips during his 65 minute delivery


distance itself from previous pledges to bankroll a boom in the green economy, it seems that cries of "missed opportunities" and "unmet targets" will continue to echo down the years. But it is hoped that there will at least be some acknowledgement that money spent on low-carbon technologies and measures to reduce energy consumption is – unlike so much of government spending – money that will actually produce a return on investment. Taking the lead on climate change and carbon-reducing initiatives will not only save on energy costs but should help to create more jobs and ultimately more tax revenue for future chancellors to spend.


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Contributors to this issue


Andrew Warren


Chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation


11


Neil Fitzsimons Managing director


of Power On 14


Stacey Lucas marketing director


23 Commercial &


at Sontay


Graham Martin at EnOcean Alliance


26 chairman and CEO


Vanda Jones Executive director at


British Compressed Air Society


29 Energy in Buildings


& Industry PROMOTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY


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