‘Rushing renewables could raise energy bills’

Renewable energy is not always cheap, according to Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho.

Speaking at Energy UK’s Annual Conference, Ms Coutinho explained, “Renewables are not cheap in every single scenario.

“It depends on the price you pay for them.”

Claire Coutinho cautioned that a rapid increase in solar and wind power might result in higher electricity prices in the UK.

“If we spend the next five years speeding up the price of solar and wind, then actually we could be increasing the price of electricity here at home,” she said.

Ms Coutinho also highlighted that overloading the energy system with intermittent renewables without adequate planning could lead to higher costs due to grid issues.

“If we overload our systems with intermittent before planning and the grid can catch up, then we’ll pay more when it comes to curtailments,” she added.

Speaking earlier, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband warned that Britain must avoid moving from high carbon inequality to clean energy unfairness, stressing the need for a swift and equitable transition to renewables that addresses fuel poverty, job creation, and economic justice.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of ScottishPower, called for “the biggest rewiring this country has seen since the grid was first built” to meet the UK’s increasing energy demand and support economic growth.