Move over wind farms: why some argue cutting costs is the best way to cut carbon
Move over wind farms: why some argue cutting costs is the best way to cut carbon
A retiree’s dilemma with renewable energy
Gavin Tait, a 69-year-old from Glasgow, claims to be an early adopter of new tech. When he received a retirement payment a decade ago, he chose to invest in sustainable systems: solar panels, a home battery, and a heat pump. “It seemed like an obvious choice,” he says. “I could save money and support the environment—why wouldn’t I?”
Initially, the setup worked well. His well-insulated home stayed warm, and his energy costs dropped. But in recent winters, the situation shifted. “I noticed my electricity bills were soaring,” he explains. This winter, he and his wife opted to return to their gas boiler, which they had kept as a backup. According to Gavin, the issue lies in the efficiency of heat pumps versus gas. While gas provides nearly one unit of heat per unit of energy, heat pumps generate three to four units per unit of power. However, since heat pumps rely on electricity, his costs have risen significantly. At 27p per kilowatt-hour, he now pays four times more than the 6p for gas-powered heating.
“It’s simple,” he says. “Economically, it just doesn’t stack up.”
Broader concerns over government focus
Stories like Gavin’s have sparked criticism of policy direction. Heating and transport account for over 40% of the UK’s emissions, yet progress in replacing gas boilers and petrol vehicles has lagged. Critics argue that ministers are overly focused on cleaning up electricity generation, which contributes only about 10% of total emissions. This emphasis, they claim, is driving up electricity prices and making it harder for people to switch to heat pumps or electric cars.
Recent events have heightened these concerns. Middle East conflicts have increased oil and gas costs, fueling fears that high energy prices could last. The government maintains that prioritizing renewables will boost energy security by reducing reliance on imported gas, cutting emissions, and eventually lowering bills. But are these claims valid, or is the focus misplaced?
The cost of the entire system
Professor Sir Dieter Helm of Oxford University notes that renewable electricity’s price depends on what’s measured. While generating clean power can be affordable, the full system isn’t. Electricity must be available constantly, not just when wind or sun are active. This requires backup sources, extra capacity, and a more extensive grid. Helm gives a simplified example: the UK’s peak demand is around 45 gigawatts. Previously, this was met with about 60 gigawatts of coal, gas, and nuclear capacity. Now, with the shift to renewables, the system needs roughly 120 gigawatts.
Expanding the grid to transport offshore wind energy to populated areas is also adding to costs. Network charges have risen due to new pylons and power lines, while balancing costs—like payments to wind farms to reduce output when the grid is full—have increased. A subsidy scheme once accounted for about 10% of average household bills. These factors suggest that the transition to renewables is not just about generation, but the broader infrastructure needed to support it.
