26 March 2024 – After dropping its £28bn pledge for green projects, Labour leader Sir Keir Stamer has announced plans to fund floating wind farms to ensure the UK’s energy security.
During a visit to the Welsh port of Holyhead, the Labour leader reaffirmed his party’s commitment to invest in green projects. While he has dropped the pledge to invest £28bn each year, Labour’s plan to invest in renewable energy is still on the cards.
Sir Keir announced that his party will, if elected, create a publically-owned energy company, Great British Energy. Through this, he will fund floating wind farms with a budget of £8.3bn.
Floating Wind Farms Are More Efficient
The type of wind farm the Labour leader has announced is more efficient than the conventional type. Currently, most wind farms are fixed to the bottom of the sea bed with steel foundations.
But these can only be installed at a depth of up to 60m (197ft), which limits the amount of energy they can produce. That’s because further out wind speeds are greater and the wind is blowing more reliably.
This means that these floating wind turbines can be placed where they can be most efficient. The turbines are dragged out to sea with a boat and are then held in place with anchors. This will prevent the wind farm from being swept away.
One problem with renewable energy, such as wind and solar, is that their capacity factors are at around 30%. This means that they can’t produce energy around the clock.
Solar panels can’t generate any electricity during the night and wind turbines need strong winds. So if the wind drops, no energy can be generated.
But wind farms that are floating further out in the sea have a higher capacity factor, because the winds are stronger, and they are more consistent.
So this type of wind farm could increase the amount of renewable energy we can produce, helping the UK to reach its net-zero target.
Renewable Vs Fossil Fuels
With this announcement the Labour Party clearly positions itself on the opposite side of the Conservatives. The PM has, in recent months, made it clear that his government believes that licensing new oil and gas fields in the North Sea is the only way to ensure energy security and low bills.
Sir Keir, on the other hand, has said that Labour will veto any new fossil fuel projects in UK waters. Labour says that only investment in renewable energy can provide long-term energy security and low energy bills for households.
Furthermore, the Labour leader said that public investment in the renewable energy sector will attract private investment and generate jobs and grow the economy.
According to recent figures, almost 40% of energy used in the UK in 2022 was imported. If the UK can replace this with home-produced energy, such as from offshore wind farms, further energy crises, as we have seen last year, could be averted.
While the government is also looking to generate more energy, it wants to focus on new oil and gas fields. But this isn’t a long-term strategy, because any fossil fuel deposits in the North Sea are limited.
Critics have said that the amount of oil and gas left in UK waters won’t be able to meet the UK’s energy demand. And once it’s gone, it’s gone. On the other hand, wind as an energy source is a long-term solution, as it will continue to blow.
With an election expected this autumn, both parties are keen to draw a dividing line between them. When it comes to energy, the choice seems to be between fossil fuels or renewable.
Our Opinion
Having dropped the pledge to invest £28bn a year in green projects, the Labour Party is clearly keen on showing that they are still committed to their green policies. Here at EcoHomeLife, we welcome this commitment.
However, we are also frustrated by the continued focus of the Conservative Party on fossil fuels. It’s scary that a major party seems to think that they can get more votes by delaying and abandoning climate action.
Of course, in an election year, there has to be a clear distinction between the two major parties. But shouldn’t the climate crisis be a problem that every party wants to solve?
The government’s arguments on why they want to drill for more oil and gas just doesn’t stack up. Fossil fuels are a limited resource, this means they aren’t a long-term solution for anything. But that’s what we need.
Wind power is a renewable resource that can provide us with cheap, clean energy for the future.
Furthermore, we have to stop burning fossil fuels, if we want to prevent extreme weather events becoming the norm. So investment in green energy is the only way forward. If only all parties would see that.
