Latest news with #BaronessTaylor
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Miliband urged to save net zero through higher bills in the South
Ed Miliband must ramp up energy bills across London and southern England to hit net zero targets, a parliamentary committee has said. The Energy Secretary is likely to miss his target of making the electricity grid 95pc carbon free by the end of the decade unless he embraces so-called zonal pricing, a new report from the Lords industry committee warned. Such a change would mean splitting Britain's single electricity market into almost a dozen regions, with the price of power determined by supply and demand within each area rather than set nationally. In practice, prices would surge in London, southern England and the Midlands where renewables are in short supply, but plummet in Scotland because of its plentiful wind farms. The change would therefore be hugely controversial. However, it would encourage companies to build renewable power infrastructure nearer to where prices are high, cutting down the amount of new pylons, cables and transformers needed to achieve a decarbonised grid. 'Regional zonal pricing should enable better use of existing grid capacity and lower the cost of electricity, provided that the transition and its risks are managed well,' the report said. Even with such changes, Mr Miliband's clean power by 2030 pledge looks increasingly likely to fail, the Lords warned. Baroness Taylor of Bolton, the committee's chairman, said: 'Given the scale of changes needed to the planning, regulation and delivery of energy infrastructure, and the UK's historic [poor] record of delivering major infrastructure projects, our report questions the feasibility of meeting the clean power target. 'Time is already running out, and there is no room for complacency. The Government and the sector must ramp up their efforts to have a chance of success.' Zonal pricing has been under consideration in the review of electricity market arrangements initiated by the previous government three years ago. An announcement is now imminent. Government officials have advised Mr Miliband to press ahead with the policy, but the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz) has refused to say if he favours the idea. Mr Miliband has insisted he will not make any change that leads to higher bills for people. Regardless, the machinery for zonal pricing is already being put in place. Ofgem recently announced plans for 11 'Regional Energy Strategy Boards'. Nine would be in England with one each in Scotland and Wales, all overseen by the National Energy System Operator (Neso). The boards would be similar to the municipal electricity and gas boards that oversaw energy supplies before privatisation, comprising local councillors and energy company representatives. Julian Leslie, Neso's chief engineer and director of strategic energy planning, said the boards would 'ensure that local communities play a central role in planning how they decarbonise and how their contributions support national strategic energy planning'. Sam Richards, of Britain Remade, a pro-growth campaign group, said the UK needed a 'clean energy revolution to lower bills and create high-quality jobs'. He added: 'Moving to zonal pricing is a crucial step in achieving this ... It would help make smarter use of our existing grid, bring down electricity costs and attract the investment needed to build clean energy where it's most abundant.' A Desnz spokesman said: 'We need new infrastructure to protect family and national finances with energy security, through clean home-grown power we control.' The three years of discussions around zonal pricing have generated growing tensions in the UK energy industry. John Pettigrew, the National Grid chief executive, last month spoke out against it, warning the disruption would be a huge distraction. Hitachi, suppliers of half the transformers, inverters and switch gear vital to the UK's 'great grid upgrade', have issued similar warnings. Others are strongly in favour, including Greg Jackson, the Octopus Energy boss. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Miliband urged to save net zero through higher bills in the South
Ed Miliband must ramp up energy bills across London and southern England to hit net zero targets, a parliamentary committee has said. The Energy Secretary is likely to miss his target of making the electricity grid 95pc carbon free by the end of the decade unless he embraces so-called zonal pricing, a new report from the Lords industry committee warned. Such a change would mean splitting Britain's single electricity market into almost a dozen regions, with the price of power determined by supply and demand within each area rather than set nationally. In practice, prices would surge in London, southern England and the Midlands where renewables are in short supply, but plummet in Scotland because of its plentiful wind farms. The change would therefore be hugely controversial. However, it would encourage companies to build renewable power infrastructure nearer to where prices are high, cutting down the amount of new pylons, cables and transformers needed to achieve a decarbonised grid. 'Regional zonal pricing should enable better use of existing grid capacity and lower the cost of electricity, provided that the transition and its risks are managed well,' the report said. Even with such changes, Mr Miliband's clean power by 2030 pledge looks increasingly likely to fail, the Lords warned. Baroness Taylor of Bolton, the committee's chairman, said: 'Given the scale of changes needed to the planning, regulation and delivery of energy infrastructure, and the UK's historic [poor] record of delivering major infrastructure projects, our report questions the feasibility of meeting the clean power target. 'Time is already running out, and there is no room for complacency. The Government and the sector must ramp up their efforts to have a chance of success.' Zonal pricing has been under consideration in the review of electricity market arrangements initiated by the previous government three years ago. An announcement is now imminent. Government officials have advised Mr Miliband to press ahead with the policy, but the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz) has refused to say if he favours the idea. Mr Miliband has insisted he will not make any change that leads to higher bills for people. Regardless, the machinery for zonal pricing is already being put in place. Ofgem recently announced plans for 11 'Regional Energy Strategy Boards'. Nine would be in England with one each in Scotland and Wales, all overseen by the National Energy System Operator (Neso). The boards would be similar to the municipal electricity and gas boards that oversaw energy supplies before privatisation, comprising local councillors and energy company representatives. Julian Leslie, Neso's chief engineer and director of strategic energy planning, said the boards would 'ensure that local communities play a central role in planning how they decarbonise and how their contributions support national strategic energy planning'. Sam Richards, of Britain Remade, a pro-growth campaign group, said the UK needed a 'clean energy revolution to lower bills and create high-quality jobs'. He added: 'Moving to zonal pricing is a crucial step in achieving this ... It would help make smarter use of our existing grid, bring down electricity costs and attract the investment needed to build clean energy where it's most abundant.' A Desnz spokesman said: 'We need new infrastructure to protect family and national finances with energy security, through clean home-grown power we control.' The three years of discussions around zonal pricing have generated growing tensions in the UK energy industry. John Pettigrew, the National Grid chief executive, last month spoke out against it, warning the disruption would be a huge distraction. Hitachi, suppliers of half the transformers, inverters and switch gear vital to the UK's 'great grid upgrade', have issued similar warnings. Others are strongly in favour, including Greg Jackson, the Octopus Energy boss.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
£13.5m centre opens to boost green skills
A £13.5m centre has opened to teach green skills and boost jobs. The Centre for Green Technology at Peterborough College aims to tackle a skills shortage and support sustainable economic growth. Hundreds of thousands of green jobs are needed to support the government's growth mission, said Baroness Taylor, a Labour peer who was at the launch. Oliver, 18, said he felt he was improving his job prospects by attending the college. He said: "Everyone's finding it quite hard [to get jobs] but it is giving me a lot of confidence doing my plumbing here." The Inspire Education Group's facility was designed to ensure learners, employers and the community could adapt to the demands of a low-carbon future. Green jobs are projected to reach over 440,000 by 2030 and employer demand for green skills grew by 46% last year. Baroness Taylor said she wanted young people in the region to get jobs that could help protect the environment. "Colleges like this, whether it is in green technology or other fields, are magnificent at doing that [involving, encouraging and enthusing young people with jobs]," she said. "[They] help support our young people to get into the jobs, apprenticeships and training places that they need to start them off in their future lives and give them the hope they need for the future." The centre has industry-standard facilities and immersive technology, including a virtual reality wall. Rachel Nicholls, chief executive officer at the Inspire Education Group, said the centre was a "key milestone". She said it "reflected a commitment to creating campuses of the future, where learners gain the skills they need, employers find the talent they're looking for and communities benefit from inclusive, sustainable growth". The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said it was tough for people who did not have the right training for the new jobs on offer. "Few people are aware that the Combined Authority has a big role on skills," he said. "It's put nearly £3m into getting these impressive facilities open. "I want our skills funding to mean two things: getting a job and getting a better job. Given its close links with employers, the Centre should be a real boost for Peterborough and the region." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Project aims to empower youngsters through nature Pledge to halt closure of skills hub 'ambiguous' Firm praises apprentices as 'crucial' to success Centre for Green Technology
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
£13.5m centre opens to boost green skills
A £13.5m centre has opened to teach green skills and boost jobs. The Centre for Green Technology at Peterborough College aims to tackle a skills shortage and support sustainable economic growth. Hundreds of thousands of green jobs are needed to support the government's growth mission, said Baroness Taylor, a Labour peer who was at the launch. Oliver, 18, said he felt he was improving his job prospects by attending the college. He said: "Everyone's finding it quite hard [to get jobs] but it is giving me a lot of confidence doing my plumbing here." The Inspire Education Group's facility was designed to ensure learners, employers and the community could adapt to the demands of a low-carbon future. Green jobs are projected to reach over 440,000 by 2030 and employer demand for green skills grew by 46% last year. Baroness Taylor said she wanted young people in the region to get jobs that could help protect the environment. "Colleges like this, whether it is in green technology or other fields, are magnificent at doing that [involving, encouraging and enthusing young people with jobs]," she said. "[They] help support our young people to get into the jobs, apprenticeships and training places that they need to start them off in their future lives and give them the hope they need for the future." The centre has industry-standard facilities and immersive technology, including a virtual reality wall. Rachel Nicholls, chief executive officer at the Inspire Education Group, said the centre was a "key milestone". She said it "reflected a commitment to creating campuses of the future, where learners gain the skills they need, employers find the talent they're looking for and communities benefit from inclusive, sustainable growth". The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said it was tough for people who did not have the right training for the new jobs on offer. "Few people are aware that the Combined Authority has a big role on skills," he said. "It's put nearly £3m into getting these impressive facilities open. "I want our skills funding to mean two things: getting a job and getting a better job. Given its close links with employers, the Centre should be a real boost for Peterborough and the region." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Project aims to empower youngsters through nature Pledge to halt closure of skills hub 'ambiguous' Firm praises apprentices as 'crucial' to success Centre for Green Technology
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
£13.5m centre at Peterborough College aims to boost green skills
A £13.5m centre has opened to teach green skills and boost Centre for Green Technology at Peterborough College aims to tackle a skills shortage and support sustainable economic of thousands of green jobs are needed to support the government's growth mission, said Baroness Taylor, a Labour peer who was at the 18, said he felt he was improving his job prospects by attending the college. He said: "Everyone's finding it quite hard [to get jobs] but it is giving me a lot of confidence doing my plumbing here." The Inspire Education Group's facility was designed to ensure learners, employers and the community could adapt to the demands of a low-carbon jobs are projected to reach over 440,000 by 2030 and employer demand for green skills grew by 46% last year. Baroness Taylor said she wanted young people in the region to get jobs that could help protect the environment."Colleges like this, whether it is in green technology or other fields, are magnificent at doing that [involving, encouraging and enthusing young people with jobs]," she said."[They] help support our young people to get into the jobs, apprenticeships and training places that they need to start them off in their future lives and give them the hope they need for the future." The centre has industry-standard facilities and immersive technology, including a virtual reality wall. Rachel Nicholls, chief executive officer at the Inspire Education Group, said the centre was a "key milestone".She said it "reflected a commitment to creating campuses of the future, where learners gain the skills they need, employers find the talent they're looking for and communities benefit from inclusive, sustainable growth". The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, said it was tough for people who did not have the right training for the new jobs on offer."Few people are aware that the Combined Authority has a big role on skills," he said."It's put nearly £3m into getting these impressive facilities open."I want our skills funding to mean two things: getting a job and getting a better job. Given its close links with employers, the Centre should be a real boost for Peterborough and the region." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
