Prime Minister Boris Johnson is backing a revival of the UK’s nuclear industry, offshore wind and the rejuvenation of North Sea oil and gas production to secure Britain’s energy future.
In a wide-ranging document, the PM said the new National Energy Strategy would reduce "dependence on power sources exposed to volatile international prices we cannot control".
A new nuclear power body, Great British Nuclear, will be set up immediately to look into new projects backed by state money, Johnson said, while a £120mln Future Nuclear Enabling Fund will launch later this month.
Up to eight new reactors could be built through the plan, with the Wylfa site in Anglesey highlighted, or one a year up to 2030.
A new licensing round for the North Sea was also announced, which will launch in autumn and be overseen by a new task force that will provide "bespoke support" for new exploration and projects.
Offshore wind and solar, however, are seemingly two of the most ambitious steps of the strategy.
Up to 50GW new offshore turbine capacity is planned by 2030, which would be more than enough to power every home in the UK, said the statement, with approval times for new developments cut to one year as part of an overhaul of the whole planning process.
Some 5GW of this will come from floating offshore wind in deeper seas.
The PM also looks to have won the row in the Cabinet over onshore wind farms, with communities to be offered lower energy bills as an incentive to host new wind farms.
Solar, too, is set for a major capacity increase with a target to increase the UK’s current 14GW up to five times by 2035 including its use on household and industrial and commercial rooftops.
As a nod to energy efficiency, domestic use of heat pumps will also be encouraged through a £30mln competition to develop a new efficient unit that uses less gas.
Green hydrogen production targets are also be doubled to 10GW by 2030, with at least half coming from green hydrogen and utilising excess offshore wind power to bring down costs.
Johnson said the government is setting out "bold plans to scale up and accelerate affordable, clean and secure energy made in Britain– from new nuclear to offshore wind – in the decade ahead”.
“This will be central to weaning Britain off expensive fossil fuels, which are subject to volatile gas prices set by international markets we are unable to control, and boosting our diverse sources of homegrown energy for greater energy security in the long-term.”