British Prime Minister Boris Johnson departs 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, 08 July 2020. (Photo: EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN) 
(Bloomberg) --
How Hydrogen Became the Hottest Thing in Green Energy: QuickTake
Sales of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned by 2030, with hybrids exempt from that target date. Johnson will also back investment in hydrogen and nuclear power, alongside offshore wind and measures to make homes more energy efficient.
On Tuesday, Johnson talked his top ministers through his 10-point plan for “a green industrial revolution,” which is expected to be published on Wednesday.
Johnson told his cabinet the plan is “vital to achieving a green recovery, and delivering new jobs through public and private investment,” Slack said during a call with reporters on Tuesday. “The prime minister said it will drive down emissions by creating and using clean power and level up the country by pioneering new technology and energy supply in our towns and regions.”
Climate Summit
The premier also intends to use his commitment to tackling climate change to help build a strong partnership with U.S. President-elect Joe Biden. Britain is due to host next year’s COP26 global climate change summit in Scotland and has committed to a net zero carbon economy by 2050.
Under the government’s plans, which were still being finalized ahead of publication, ministers are set to announce:
- Measures to support up to 250,000 jobs, including 60,000 in offshore wind, and 10,000 in nuclear power
- Phasing out sales of diesel and petrol cars by 2030, excluding hybrids
- Confirm support for nuclear power as a clean energy source, with at least one new nuclear plant -- set to be Sizewell -- and a new generation of small and advanced nuclear reactors
- Grants to support energy efficient homes
- A target of 5 gigawatts of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, and a net-zero hydrogen fund to support the technology
How Hydrogen Became the Hottest Thing in Green Energy: QuickTake
Britain needs both small and large-scale nuclear technologies to meet its climate change commitments, according to the plan being drafted by officials.
That’s likely to be good news for Electricite de France SA and its Sizewell C plant - the only project still in the development pipeline after Hitachi Ltd exited a development in Wales.
The government says it wants to see small-scale reactors built too. Small modular reactors have been promoted by the nuclear industry as a way to blend steady atomic generation with intermittent renewable energy.
How Sizewell will be financed remains an open question with the government expected to draw a conclusion on its preferred financing model in the energy white paper before the end of the year.
The hydrogen target is in line with industry demands. RenewableUK had urged the government to set a target of 5GW of renewable electrolyser capacity by 2030, rising to 10GW by 2035.
--With assistance from Rachel Morison.