UK energy professionals seek greater policy continuity and are pessimistic on climate change targets

UK energy professionals point to energy policy continuity as the biggest challenge for their sector today. Despite the euphoria surrounding the Paris Climate Change Agreement, they also express skepticism about the signatories’ ability to meet the targets set last December.
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In the second of the Energy Institute (EI)’s Energy Barometer annual surveys, launched in London today, a representative sample of EI professional members were invited to share their views on energy issues currently facing the industry.

Continuity in energy policy is the top concern with a lack of investment a close second. The long term impact of a low oil price, along with the need for whole-system thinking and longer term planning have also emerged as top issues in the past 12 months.

Professor Jim Skea CBE FEI FRSA, President, Energy Institute, says, ‘The EI’s Energy Barometer 2016 report shows that the single biggest wish for people working in UK energy is a stable energy policy to help industry and financiers decide where to invest profitably and, more crucially, to allow for long-term planning.  Renewable energy and capturing carbon – key to implementing the Paris climate agreement – are seen to have been particularly badly hit by policy changes over the last year.’

Most respondents to the survey (70%) do not think the COP21 agreement will be sufficient to hold global temperatures below 2°C, and are concerned that the policies in place are not having the desired effect.

Malcolm Brinded CBE FEI FREng, Vice-President, Energy Institute, says, ’This year’s survey reflects concern that lack of policy continuity leads to under-investment in both UK energy technology and infrastructure. This is considered to be the largest barrier to innovation and the delivery of the low carbon energy system needed to meet future demand and emissions targets, securely and affordably.’

Policy uncertainty relating to carbon capture and storage (CCS) is viewed as having a particularly negative impact on industry, as are policies relating to renewable electricity deployment, reducing fuel poverty, and simplifying energy taxation. Furthermore, a majority of respondents think the UK will fall significantly short of its goal of reducing emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Policy support for new nuclear power stations, however, is seen to have had a net positive effect, along with energy efficiency improvements.

Other key findings include:

• Investment risk and impact of low oil prices
  CCS stands out as the technology most subject to investment risk due to policy uncertainty, but nuclear and renewable energy are also perceived as high risk. Low oil prices are an additional factor discouraging investment, not only in UK oil and gas supply, but also in energy efficiency and the low carbon technologies needed for a sustainable energy transition. Energy efficiency bucks the trend for investment risk due to policy uncertainty, and is viewed as low risk.

• Impact of EU referendum
  An overwhelming majority of contributors to the EI’s Energy Barometer foresee negative effects on the UK energy system should the UK leave the EU.  In terms of securing energy supplies, renewable energy development, climate change and sustainability, and air quality, about four times as many respondents foresee negative effects than see positive ones. The single exception to this pattern was oil and gas production, where positive and negative views were broadly balanced.

Professor Skea concludes, “I would like to thank the EI members who participated in this important work. The publication of this report would not be possible without their commitment to sharing their views. I commend this report, and the insights it provides, to anyone in the private or public sector with a stake in the future of UK energy.”

The complete set of data used in this Energy Barometer report is available online at www.energyinst.org/energy-barometer

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For further information, please contact:

Katie Crabb, Communications Manager, Energy Institute

t: +44 (0)20 7467 7173, e: [email protected]

Notes to editor:

• The 2016 Energy Barometer survey was conducted in February 2016.  The 2016 College of EI members invited to participate consisted of 517 respondents to the 2015 survey and 212 new members. They were drawn from Fellow, Member and Graduate grades of EI membership. A total of 438 participants fully completed the survey.

• The Energy Institute (EI) is the leading chartered professional membership body for the energy industry, supporting over 23,000 individuals working in or studying energy and 200 energy companies worldwide. The EI provides learning and networking opportunities to support professional development, as well as professional recognition and technical and scientific knowledge resources on energy in all its forms and applications.

• The EI’s purpose is to develop and share knowledge, skills and good practice towards a safe, secure, affordable and sustainable energy system. A registered charity, the EI serves society by offering scientifically sound information on energy issues and a neutral platform for debate. As the only industry-wide professional body, covering all disciplines and forms of energy, the EI has great strength in the diversity and expertise of its members.

• The EI’s ambition is to:

o    Help improve understanding of energy and the quality of the debate

o    Support energy professionals and help deliver the skills the industry needs

o    Drive up standards, promoting excellence in practice

In doing so, the EI adheres to core values of independence, professionalism, integrity and sound science. For more information, please visit www.energyinst.org