Healey to veto new offshore wind projects if they will not lower bills
Summary
John Healey says ministers will reject offshore wind projects in the next renewables auction if they cannot connect to Britain’s electricity grid without raising consumer costs. The government has also cut funding for energy programs, including the boiler upgrade scheme, as it redirects money toward defence spending, prompting concern about its clean-energy targets.Key Facts
- Ministers will assess whether proposed offshore wind projects can be accommodated by the electricity grid before approving subsidy contracts.
- Healey said the government would buy projects that can lower bills and strengthen energy security.
- Britain’s National Energy System Operator pays wind farms to switch off when the grid cannot carry their electricity.
- A National Audit Office report warned that addressing grid constraints could cost households and businesses up to £7.8bn a year by 2030.
- The government has reduced funding for the boiler upgrade scheme, which helps households replace gas boilers with heat pumps.
- Households can claim £7,500 toward a heat pump, and about 60,000 heat pumps are installed each year in existing homes.
- The government aims to increase annual heat-pump installations in existing homes to 250,000 by 2030.
- The government says it will fund part of its defence investment plan through cuts to other departments, including the energy department.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
