Introduction:

With the next general election fast approaching, in today’s blog we thought we would share our two-pence worth considering the outcome will have a significant impact on the renewable energy market, and therefore consumers and installers.

We will look at how each outcome could impact the renewable energy market and how to prepare as an installer. Please note, we don’t hold any political bias here we are just presenting the facts and policies of each party in the hope that we can prepare you for what’s to come. That being said, let’s delve into the current political landscape.

The Parties:

It is no secret that the current government is falling short of its net zero targets and it has been emphasised by officials and the public alike that the government needs to pull its big finger out and provide decisive and concise guidance on net zero. The government has consistently contradicted its own efforts which has left the public confused and even reluctant to make the renewable switch due to a lack of direction. As a result, all eyes are on the next elected government and there will be no time to dilly dally with the goal to decarbonise electricity set to be achieved by 2035 (or 2030 in Labour’s case.)

This brings us nicely onto Labour’s extremely ambitious (some may argue unrealistic) targets to knock five years off the current road map. Sir Keir Starmer has proposed for Great British Energy to invest in the race to net zero, and thus has pledged to reach the targets of decarbonising electricity by 2030 instead of 2035 (Is Labour’s 2030 Green Energy Goal Realistic and How Would It Affect Bills?, 2024.)

There are a number of criticisms of Labour’s targets. Conservatives obviously have some strong objections, which relate to the potential increase in household bills due to the ‘rapid’ approach, and many just don’t think it is practicably achievable.

The most pressing outcome of this however is of course an increase in household bills, which would be brought about by the additional investment needed to reach the goal in such a quick timescale. However as an installer, you should not be negatively impacted; in fact Labour’s deadlines could further increase the amount of work for installers in order to meet the ambitious targets.

The Conservatives are equally committed to achieving Net Zero, yet define ‘clean energy’ as 95% clean in contrast to Labour who deem 100% as ‘clean.’ However, the execution is different and the Conservatives aim to do so in a longer time frame. There are of course other political parties at play here who all share differing opinions on the importance of Net Zero, with the Green Party Pledging to reach it in 10 years and Reform UK wanting to scrap it altogether (General Election: How Each Party Plans to Tackle Climate Change, 2024.) Whilst they may have opposing opinions the two leading parties are Labour and the Conservatives and it is safe to assume that the race will remain between these two major parties. Therefore, as an installer and consumer, it is important to consider the impact both parties may have on the market.

How to Prepare:

No matter the outcome of the election one thing is clear, renewable energy will remain a necessity for decarbonising the UK and also reducing bills. Therefore it’s simple – fully prepare and equip yourself to be at the forefront of the renewable revolution. We completely understand that some of you may have reservations about taking the plunge, and that the government is not helping reassure the switch, but as we have learnt in todays blog it is inevitable, and individuals who don’t act will get left behind by those who take action now.

Irrespective of your political views, if you are an electrician, plumber or heating engineer, or even non-technical operative, you can prepare yourself with our range of renewable energy courses so that you are ready to provide consumers with alternative energy sources to offset the ever increasing cost of living in the UK.

You can view all of our renewable energy courses by clicking here.

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