Time to skill: developing an efficient and low-carbon energy infrastructure will require a massive investment in skills

摘要

Britain's energy system needs a major rebuild to meet the challenges of energy security and tackling climate change. The main challenges are keeping the lights on and a 90 per cent decarbonisation of the economy by 2050. By then the economy could be twice the size it is now but CO_2 emissions will need to be one-fifth of the current total. To achieve this by 2050, energy efficiency will need to improve by at least three times and the carbon intensity of energy must decline by one third or more.rnCompounding the challenge will be the closure of about 40 per cent of the UK's generating capacity in the next 15 years or so, as old coal and nuclear plants are decommissioned. The generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure will need a revamp. The rebuild programme for electricity alone will cost around ￡200bn.