Energy Security Summit: Renewables and insulation essential

The UK government should set a legally binding target to become a major green energy exporter by 2050, says Friends of the Earth.

The move would help secure the nation’s energy security, create new jobs, lower bills and fulfil the government’s pledge to become a clean energy superpower.

Later today the UK government is hosting a major international energy security summit

The call comes as updated Friends of the Earth analysis, published today, shows that England alone has the potential to generate 50 times more renewable energy from onshore wind and solar than it currently does. A map showing the sites is here: https://mapst.ac/foe/onshore-renewables-england

Since last year’s general election, there’s been substantial and welcome progress in developing and amending policy to help rapidly grow onshore renewable energy in England as well as speeding-up development of offshore wind. However, Friends of the Earth is calling on the government to go further, including:

• Setting a legally binding target to become major clean energy exporter by 2050. 
• Providing bill reductions to people living near new solar farms and onshore wind developments. The government recently announced households near new grid lines will benefit from £250 a year off their energy bills for 10 years.
• Speeding up the transition to electric heat pumps for home heating to lower gas imports. This should include grants to cover the full cost of heat pump installation for low-income homes. Domestic heating is the number one use of gas in the UK.
• Ensuring that the £13.2bn earmarked for the government’s Warm Home Plan – which will go some way to funding a nationwide insulation programme – is not cut in the upcoming spending review.

Mike Childs, head of science, policy & research at Friends of the Earth, said:

“The government clearly recognises the substantial economic and environmental benefits that building a cleaner future can bring..

“Developing the UK’s huge homegrown renewable energy resources and insulating our heat-leaking homes are critical for securing our energy security.

“The Prime Minister must ensure that vital investment in decarbonising the UK economy – such as the Warm Homes Plan – does not fall victim to funding cuts in Rachel Reves’ spending review.

“Our country has been held hostage by the yoyo-ing price of dirty fossil fuels for far too long.

“The government is due to publish a revised climate action plan later this year. Keir Starmer must ensure it includes legally binding targets to make the UK a renewable energy superpower and a net exporter of clean, green energy by 2050.

“An ambitious climate plan will also lower bills, create new jobs and give businesses the confidence to invest in the green economy – as well as ensuring that the UK stays on track to meet its carbon reduction targets.”

England’s huge onshore renewable potential

Using updated information to build on a report published last year, which identified the land that could be most suitable for new onshore renewable energy developments, Friends of the Earth’s updated analysis found:

• There is nearly 8,000km2 of land in England most suitable for onshore wind (6.1% of all land) and 18,563km2 for solar farms (14% of all land). Because some of this land is the same, this is equal to 16% of land overall.
• If this capacity was fully developed - which is far in excess of what would be required, even if the UK becomes a major green energy exporter - and if wind was prioritised above solar on sites that are suitable for both, this land could produce 50 times the current onshore wind and solar electricity generation across England.
• This figure is equivalent to more than 10 times the electricity currently consumed by homes in England.
• The sites identified could generate clean energy without harming areas protected for nature, heritage sites or building solar farms on the best quality agricultural land.

Friends of the Earth is also calling on the government to introduce a requirement for all onshore wind and solar projects to not only avoid harming nature but to enhance it. Many solar farms are already making significant biodiversity gains.

ENDS

Notes to editors:
1.   For the original analysis published in 2024, Friends of the Earth worked with the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence based at the University of Exeter to identify the land that could be most suitable for new onshore renewable energy. This updated analysis, based on feedback from industry, used reduced buffers around infrastructure and heritage sites than previously and this has significantly increased the land available. More info on the updated analysis is available on request.
2.    A new government action plan for meeting the UK’s legally binding climate targets over the next 12 years must be published by Wednesday 29 October 2025. Friends of the Earth is urging the government to seize the huge opportunities that building a greener future will bring while ensuring that everyone feels the benefits, such as lower bills, warmer homes and better public transport, as well as making sure that UK climate targets are met: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/latest/govt-publish-new-climate-action-plan-october