Hill+Knowlton Strategies

A commitment to deliver an annual energy statement ‘to set strategic energy policy and guide investment’ was a key plank of the coalition government’s energy policy. In a flurry of new consultations, calls for evidence and publications, the first statement was delivered today.

The final day before the start of the summer parliamentary recess would be the perfect occasion to rehash and reannounce old initiatives – so is that what has happened, or am I being over-cynical?

Well, there are certainly some elements that we have heard before – for example a review of the role of Ofgem, and a drive to greater transparency in consumer energy billing have both been hinted at in recent months. That said, the additional level of detail and timelines announced today are both new and very welcome.

Both of the above will certainly generate coverage tomorrow, as will the genuinely new announcements, such as the initiative to identify additional CCS projects worthy of public sector investment.

And of course, all of the detail announced today contributes to creating a more stable environment for investment in the energy sector, stability which is desperately needed in both the newer and more ’traditional’ energy sectors at the moment.  

The mixture of more detail on existing policy, together with some completely new initiatives, seems a good one. Too much of either would not be credible. Here’s hoping that future statements follow the start made today.

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I came across an interesting article on carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the Guardian this morning. I say interesting because, a) it focused on a report from carbon capture sceptic (and it was in the Guardian, no less!) and b) because it reaffirmed, to a certain extent, my own opinions on the relevance and importance of CCS.

Last week, my colleague Steph and I took the opportunity to mosey along to the April Green in the City event, which by happy coincidence focused on CCS. It was a good event with lots of insightful speakers – I’ll certainly be going back – but it didn’t do much to change my stance on CCS.

I’m not a dyed-in-organic-wool climate change activist, but I do strongly believe that we need to make the shift to a low carbon economy. Where I struggle with investment in CCS is that it’s not an immediate fix, and as more and more research is showing, it’s expensive and doesn’t necessarily work as well at ridding the atmosphere of carbon as some are leading us to believe. I’m of the mindset that we should be focusing on more long-term solutions to develop technology that actually eliminates or reduces carbon, rather than simply hiding it back in the earth’s crust.

And, maybe, just maybe…the most effective means of carbon capture is all natural?