Clean Power 2030 Action Plan

The UK Government has unveiled an action plan to achieve its goal of clean power by 2030, describing it as “the most ambitious reforms to our energy system in generations.”

The plan details how the government aims to transform Britain into a clean energy superpower, cutting bills, creating jobs, and ensuring energy security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity. However, with the 2030 target just five years away, the challenge is significant. Meeting this goal will require tripling offshore wind capacity to 43–50GW, substantially increasing solar and onshore wind generation, and scaling up battery storage by six times.

The action plan is a 138 paged document outlining what the Government plans but we have summarised the key points below:

Summary of the Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan

  • Reforming Electricity Networks: The grid connection process will prioritise renewable projects, and network infrastructure development will be accelerated with community benefits in mind.
  • Streamlining Planning and Consents: The planning process for energy projects will be updated to improve efficiency, supported by a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Flexibility will be provided to planning organisations to manage increased workloads, while environmental and community protections are maintained.
  • Delivering Renewable and Nuclear Projects: Contracts for difference will be enhanced, and steps will be taken to manage interactions between wind turbines and aviation systems. Emerging low-carbon technologies will also be supported.
  • Electricity Market Reform: Reforms will support low-carbon flexible capacity, remove deployment barriers, and introduce market-wide half-hourly settlements, allowing consumers to lower their bills.
  • Energy Storage and Flexibility: A roadmap for low-carbon flexibility will enhance market access for batteries, address periods of low renewable output, and explore financing options for retrofitting. Long-duration storage schemes may open by Q2 2025.
  • Supply Chains and Workforce: A new industry forum will focus on strengthening domestic supply chains and expanding the clean energy workforce. The plan signals opportunities for investors to locate their businesses in the UK.

But Can We Really Achieve the 2030 Clean Energy Target?

The government’s target of a 95% decarbonised grid by 2030 presents a significant yet achievable challenge. While the initial stages of decarbonisation have seen progress, with clean sources contributing 58% of UK electricity in 2024 according to Carbon Brief analysis, the final stages are anticipated to be the most complex and costly.

Achieving this ambitious target within the remaining five years requires rapid action from both the government and industry, requiring substantial investment.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) acknowledges the continued role of gas power plants in maintaining grid stability, particularly during periods of peak electricity demand. The proposed system includes approximately 35 GW of gas reserve capacity, a slight decrease from current levels, highlighting the ongoing significance of gas in the UK’s electricity generation mix despite representing the nation’s largest current source.

While the continued use of fossil fuels might appear to contradict the definition of ‘clean’ power, it may be necessary to bridge the gap and ensure grid reliability on the path to achieving the 2030 decarbonisation target.