The money raised from household energy bills should be spent on reliable cost effective lower carbon energy sources
GMB, the energy union, says the UK should invest money in clean domestic energy sources rather than importing power from overseas.
The Government is investing heavily on interconnectors used to import electricity from abroad in times of high demand.
Meanwhile Germany, one of the countries the UK imports from, has decided to close down the coal-powered stations which supply 40 per cent of electricity in Germany.
The German Government plans to rely on the interconnectors for power in times of peak demand.
Here in the UK, planners are building interconnectors for the very same reason with the same resultant risks for this country.
UK policy demands a rethink on the grounds of energy security.
“We should not spend our time and money looking for silver bullets that may not exist.”
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary:
For the 12 months from 7 March 2017, every one in 5.6 days was a low wind day (65 days in total) when the output of the installed and connected wind turbines in the UK produced less than 10% of their installed and connected capacity for more than half of the day. For 341 days in the year, solar output was below 10% of installed capacity for more than half of the day.
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary, said:
“UK investment in interconnectors needs an urgent review.
“It makes absolutely no sense for the country to rely on other countries to keep our lights on, when they are doing the same thing.
“The money raised from household energy bills should be spent on reliable, cost-effective lower carbon energy sources in the UK rather than relying on imports which may not be available. In an increasingly uncertain world, energy self-sufficiency is common sense.
“We should not spend our time and money looking for silver bullets that may not exist.”
