Next steps for electrification – ECA meets Climate Change Committee

Following the publication of ECA’s (Electrical Contractors’ Association) Blueprint for Electrification report, Jane Dawson, Head of External Affairs at ECA, and Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) discussed some of the issues it highlighted. 

ECA has worked with the CCC previously to provide data for its 7th Carbon Budget, which was published earlier this year. It maintains a positive ongoing relationship with the independent body.

The Carbon Budget provides advice to the Government of the day about how they can achieve their legally binding carbon emissions targets in the decade ahead. Every year it holds the Government to account on its progress towards net zero targets.

Sixty percent of the reduction in carbon emissions will be delivered via clean electricity. Therefore, the fastest way for the UK to decarbonise is to electrify. 

Currently the biggest emitters of carbon are heat and transport, with cars being the heaviest emitters, producing a third of the UK’s dirty carbon emissions. The CCC advise speeding up adoption of electric heating solutions and EVs to mitigate these issues.

CCC is keen to work with trade bodies such as ECA, which have expertise in the delivery of electrification and can provide credible data.

ECA’s Blueprint for Electrification report brings together industry partners to provide a 10-step roadmap to electrifying the UK, offering solutions to unblock obstacles to electrification. Many of these are also highlighted in the CCC’s Carbon Budget, including the need for policy certainty, planning and grid reform - and top of their list - reducing the price of electricity.

One of the key findings from the report was that electricians are the most trusted source for advising on low carbon installations.

ECA’s ongoing work with the CCC will focus on helping to map the future size and shape of the electrical workforce for the needs of the whole of the UK economy.  

Jane Dawson said:

“During the last year the cross-party consensus on net zero has disintegrated, creating uncertainty for investors in the UK’s energy transition.  Yet, the breadth and depth of CCC’s research offers a steady drumbeat towards long term targets -for industry this provides clarity on which to base business decisions.  The recent decision by Government to pursue electrification as the fastest route to emissions reduction is based on hard evidence from the CCC. Electrification makes sense for the economy and will drive long term savings for everyone.”