Our blog from January 2022 examined the reasons for the unprecedented rise in energy costs which have caused so much misery for UK billpayers.
Chief among the causes we mentioned was the UK’s over-reliance on imported Russian gas to heat our homes and power our lives.
At that time, we highlighted how Russia’s decision to tighten its gas exports to Europe had caused wholesale prices on the continent to skyrocket, a cost which is inevitably passed on to homes and businesses.
Little could we have known how much more strategically significant this dependency was to become just one month later.
Gas as a ‘bridge fuel’ between coal and renewables
In pursuing their carbon emissions reduction targets, the UK and Europe are transitioning away from using coal because coal is an especially polluting kind of fossil fuel.
The goal is that one day we will be able to heat and power our lives with 100% renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, and that we will have no need to use fossil fuels like coal and gas.
The trouble is that whilst Europeans have greatly reduced the amount of coal we use, we have not yet built enough renewable energy generation to meet our demand.
For this reason, both the UK and Europe’s consumption of gas has risen in recent years, to fill the gap left by coal that has not yet been replaced by renewables. This is why gas is referred to by some policy makers as a ‘bridge-fuel’.
The UK now relies on gas heating for 85% of our homes and to produce nearly 40% of our electricity.
How gas weakens Europe’s ability to challenge Moscow
Using copious amounts of gas is not a great strategy in the first place, because whilst it may be a ‘cleaner’ than coal, it is still a fossil fuel and using it as an energy source still contributes carbon emissions to an already overheating planet.
To make matters worse, a great deal of the gas used in Europe and the UK comes from Russia (40% in 2021), a country which is currently engaged in an unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine.
This heavy dependence on Russian gas weakens Europe’s position when challenging Moscow’s foreign policy, because it is well understood by all sides that Russia could turn off the gas supply at any time. This would have major implications for heating and powering our homes, while also causing significant disruption to industry and business.
We have already seen enormous increases in energy prices as a result of Russia reducing exports to Europe in 2021. We can only expect this to get worse as the crisis in the Ukraine escalates.
Why energy independence strengthens our hand against aggressor nations
Vladimir Putin knows how much Europe is currently dependent on Russian gas and he will exploit this position of power as a foreign policy tool.
In breaking away from a dependency on imported gas, Europe would gain a tremendous amount of resilience in its future geopolitical affairs.
The best way to achieve this is by developing a domestic energy infrastructure that is powered by 100% homegrown renewable energy sources.
Introducing measures to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and power our lives will also help to achieve this goal, which is why an ambitious programme of energy efficiency upgrades is so beneficial.
When we remove our reliance on overseas oil and gas, we take away a key tool that has so often been used by bullies in international relations as a means of exerting their power, such was the case with the 1973 oil crisis.
Taking action to reduce energy demand and switching to renewable energy can be viewed not only as an act of climate responsibility, it is an act of defiance against aggressor nations like Russia, whose economies rely so heavily on fossil fuel exports. In effect, by buying their gas, we are empowering them, funding their bully tactics, disempowering ourselves.
Being able to heat and power our lives with homegrown renewable energy gives the UK energy security in times of geopolitical turmoil and means that it can take the decision not to support the economies of petro-states by purchasing their oil and gas. We are also helping the world to meet its climate goals by leading by example.
Germany has taken the lead on accelerating this shift to 100% domestic renewables by announcing a new 200 billion euro financial package to fund the energy transformation of its industries.
How community energy can accelerate the move away from gas
We know that most people want to take action on climate change and to make their homes and businesses more environmentally sustainable.
However, we also know that such projects can be technically complex and may require significant upfront cost.
Community energy groups can address these challenges by providing the technical expertise needed to develop clean energy projects, in addition to helping with the upfront financial costs.
Most community energy projects are delivered through a community investment drive, which removes any financial obstacles standing in the way of a property owner who wants to install low-carbon energy technologies, keeping profits local, boosting local economies.
This makes the switch to renewable energy accessible for everybody, mobilising the community into taking action on reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, while reducing fuel poverty, as solar and wind are the cheapest forms of energy generation.
The power and potential of community energy as an important vehicle for driving the clean energy transition was recently acknowledged in an article by The Guardian, which explained how the community energy sector can “transform the country’s energy landscape and reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuel”.
We have the tools, the knowledge, and the passion to make the clean energy transition a reality, and it is our collective duty to seize this opportunity.
Why this matters for your home or business
Installing solar panels on your roof or switching your oil tank for an air source heat pump will not make much of an impact on Kremlin policy, but it will mean that you are more protected if and when the next energy crisis happens.
By moving away from fossil fuels and towards local, renewable energy, you are bringing greater security to your energy supply, and ensuring that you are protected from the volatility of global energy markets.
If you are able to meet the majority of your heat and power needs with renewable generation that is located in the same place that you live and work, then you can take comfort in knowing that you have a secure, reliable long-term supply.
Furthermore, in making the transition away from fossil fuels and towards a clean, green energy supply, you will be making a vital contribution in the fight against climate change, reducing your carbon emissions whilst lowering your costs and exposure to energy markets.
We know that this is a sensible long-term strategy because so many of the world’s most valuable companies, from Apple to Microsoft to Google, are making every effort to power their businesses with their own renewable energy.
The first step in your journey is to have an energy survey done for your home or business in order to identify opportunities for improvement and to determine the most-cost effective solutions available.
Why fracking and North Sea oil would be terrible strategies for the UK to pursue
Some commentators in the news are using the energy crisis as an excuse to maximise the UK’s domestic oil and gas production.
People are saying that to keep energy prices affordable the UK must fully develop its North Sea oil and gas fields and look again at developing a domestic fracking industry.
Not only could such a strategy be considered as climate suicide, neither fracking nor drilling would deliver any benefits to energy costs for regular customers. The investment required to derive these fossil fuels is a diversion from the wiser, more relevant renewable energy solution.
It takes years to bring new fossil fuel projects on stream. Most of the oil and gas developed in the North Sea has been licensed to foreign countries, so is exported. Fracking in the UK is not suitable as gas quality is low, wells have a very short lifetime, while damage to water, air quality and methane gas flaring causes longer deterioration of well-being and quality of life for all beings living close to fracking sites.
Most importantly however, it should go without saying that in an overheating world facing irreversible climate change, adding more carbon emissions by investing in new fossil fuel projects is simply not an option. If the world is to stabilise temperatures at 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels, then any investment in drilling for fossil fuels is uneconomic, wasteful and destructive.
The only solution on offer is to meet our heat and power needs with 100% renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro, and solar.
Renewable energy solutions are the cheapest forms of new energy generation and offer the most affordable long-term energy supply.
The current energy crisis exists because we have not developed enough renewable energy, not because we are moving away from fossil fuels.
What can you do to take action for your own energy security?
The most effective way to secure long-term affordable energy for your home or business is to maximise the energy efficiency of your property and to start generating your own on-site renewable energy where possible.
To get started on this journey, property owners are welcome to contact BHESCo’s Project Management Team for expert advice and support.
Our years of experience and technical expertise in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies will guarantee that you install the most cost-effective energy solutions for your property. If appropriate, BHESCo can even help to finance the upfront cost of your energy project through our innovative ‘Pay As You Save’ initiative.
We will take care of everything for you, from project design and installation to performance monitoring and maintenance.
Take action today to end the UK’s dependence on overseas oil and gas. Let BHESCo become your trusted partner on your journey towards local, affordable, renewable energy.
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