EDITOR’S OPINION


Fighting a rearguard action Chris Jones


Managing editor of Energy in Buildings & Industry


A


recent report confirming that the world’s wind and solar farms have succeeded in generating more electricity


than coal plants has been acclaimed as a turning point for the global power system. It has also highlighted the disparity between the efforts of China and developing nations to invest in clean energy solutions and the Trump administration’s determination to turn back the clock. The well-publicised study by


climate thinktank Ember looked at figures for the first half of this year. China was shown to be leading the way, adding more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined, outpacing electricity demand and reducing its fossil fuel generation by 2%. By contrast, demand for electricity in the US outpaced its renewables sector, resulting in a 17% increase in coal generation in the first six months of the year. Trump appears to be proud to have become the fossil fuel industry’s


biggest cheerleader, calling climate change a “hoax” and withdrawing funding from previously thriving clean energy projects. It’s a rearguard action, though, that is clearly at odds with the rest of the world. Similarly to the way he has been willing to lose US influence by cutting overseas aid, it seems that he has no qualms about letting China take centre stage in addressing what many would argue is the biggest single threat to the planet. Other countries have also shown


that they are capable of outpacing the Western world. For example, India over the same period grew its renewable energy by more than three times its electricity demand, causing its coal and gas use to fall by 3.1% and 34% respectively. Solar power is booming in Pakistan,


where imported solar panels have been installed that are capable of generating 17 gigawatts (GW) of solar power in 2024, double the previous year and the equivalent of roughly a third of the country’s current


electricity generation capacity. Africa is also experiencing a solar boom with panel imports up 60% year on year, in the year to June. South Africa has led the way, while Nigeria overtook Egypt into second place with 1.7GW of solar generating capacity – estimated to be enough to meet the electricity demand of roughly 1.8m homes in Europe. Closer to home, the anti-net


zero lobby is starting to grow in confidence, no doubt buoyed by the encouragement given to such backward-thinking from the other side of the pond. Unfortunately, these voices are likely to find a receptive audience amongst many UK voters who will always be susceptible to the appeal of some easy remedies to their woes.


... the anti-net zero lobby is starting to grow in confidence


It has already been claimed that £225bn could be saved by ditching net zero projects – a figure that might be appearing on some buses at the next General Election – but it’s a saving that fails to take into account lost jobs and growth opportunities. The current Labour government has thus far provided little evidence that it is capable of providing a positive narrative to counter such negativity, but, if it doesn’t succeed in putting forward some convincing arguments on the benefits of net zero, we could soon be joining the US in going into reverse.


Contributors to this issue


Andrew Warren


Chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation


11 Colin Dean


Managing director of Socomec UK


14 Nick Maggs


Managing director, hard services at OCS UKI


23 Paul Smith


29 Chair of The Rooflight


David Goddard Ledvance


30 Head of projects at


Association’s technical committee


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