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Building UK energy resilience
8/6/2022
6 min read
Feature
In response to the energy and cost-of-living crisis, the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) recently teamed up with the Energy Institute and Royal Academy of Engineering to present a webinar on ‘UK energy resilience: looking to next winter and beyond’. Brian Davis and Steve Hodgson examine some of the key issues raised during the morning and afternoon sessions, respectively.
On the same day as the distinguished panel of experts explored a raft of short-term actions and long-term measures likely to impact the energy transition, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a surprise volte face with an estimated £5bn windfall tax on energy companies to help fund a further £15bn support package for UK households facing rampant inflation of fuel and food bills.
In a crisis, good timing is vital, and the support package announced on 26 May included a universal £400 energy bill discount for all UK households and a £650 one-off cost of living payment for over 8mn households on means tested benefits. Sunak also unveiled separate one-off payments of £300 to pensioner households and £150 to individuals receiving disability benefits – groups who are particularly vulnerable to rising prices, including the cost of energy.
Priorities for this winter
Against this backdrop, and speaking at the morning session at the webinar, Professor Jan Webb MBE, University of Edinburgh and UKERC Co-Director, pointed out that upwards of 8.5–10mn UK households are anticipated to be in fuel poverty or fuel stress this winter. ‘This is the moment for energy efficiency first,’ she said.