Power lines stretching for 1,000km and 4,500km of undersea cables will have to be installed if ministers are to hit their 2030 clean energy target, an in-depth analysis has found.
The UK’s energy system also needs £40 billion a year of investment, according to a report by the National Energy System Operator (Neso), commissioned by Ed Miliband, the energy secretary. It concludes the 2030 aim — the subject of widespread scepticism across the political spectrum — is “a huge challenge but is achievable”.
Gary Smith, the head of the GMB trade union, one of the Labour Party’s biggest donors, has described it as “impossible”, while Claire Coutinho, the former Conservative energy secretary — has claimed that the target is being driven by “ideology” over facts