Labour’s internet zero plans danger plunging Britain into darkness warns Tory

Labour‘s mission to hit net zero carbon emissions in Britain’s energy supply by 2030 is ‘unrealistic’ and risks plunging the country into darkness, the Energy Secretary has claimed.

Claire Coutinho says Sir Keir Starmer‘s pledge to fast-track wind and solar power projects in order to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels within six years did not account for Britain’s readiness to make the switch.

She said the plan to aim for net zero energy emissions – putting out no more carbon than is being captured – five years ahead of the Tories was too fast, without the capacity to cope with days where ‘the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine’.

Technologies are in development to capture the surplus energy generated through renewables such as wind turbines and solar panels – but Ms Coutinho says such tech isn’t ready and without it, Labour risks unleashing ‘wide public unrest’.

Labour has pledged ‘clean power by 2030’, quadrupling offshore wind capacity by then and boosting onshore wind and solar power projects, as well as getting nuclear power projects over the line.

Energy secretary Claire Coutinho claims Labour’s goal of net-zero energy production in Britain by 2030 is unrealistic

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (pictured on Friday) has admitted the goal of net zero energy by 2030 – five years earlier than the Tories – is ‘difficult’

Britain’s energy needs are still largely meet using fossil fuels, with solar power contributing to 4.9 per cent of our electricity generation (pictured: a solar farm in south-east England)

Sir Keir has admitted that the goal is ‘difficult’ but claims it is ‘doable’. 

It has also vowed to halt the issuing of new licenses for North Sea exploration and drilling to reduce the country’s reliance on oil. 

But its pledge comes after the Scottish Government dropped its target to cut Scotland’s carbon emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 after UK climate watchdog thje Climate Change Committee (CCC) warned it could not be done.

The SNP’s dropped target ultimately cost first minister Humza Yousaf his job after the party’s coalition with the Scottish Greens crumbled.

Ms Coutinho said Sir Keir’s ‘ideological’, single-minded approach to the 2030 target would have a similarly dismal outcome.

She told The Telegraph: ‘They (Labour) are pretending that they can decarbonise the grid by 2030 – a target which no other major economy has. 

‘And if they were to achieve it, it would either be through enormous costs, or it would risk blackouts in this country.’

She added: ‘Going forward, we will have things like batteries and other technologies, but they’re not ready yet. 

‘So my concern is that we don’t have the right things in place to make sure that we can keep the lights on in Britain.’

Labour’s intention aligns with goals set by the CCC, which is pushing for more radical net zero targets than those set by ministers.

But Ms Coutinho said the plan was ‘ideological’ rather than practical.

She also claimed renewables would not guarantee a consistent energy supply, making the UK potentially reliant on expensive imports of energy from other countries where they have a surplus of renewable electricity.

The UK has also been able to export energy in recent years amid falling power use. But much of the UK’s electricity, around 40 per cent, is still generated using fossil fuels as of 2022.

The Tories say they will aim for net zero energy generation by 2035 rather than 2030. 

The Telegraph reports that the CCC – the official climate watchdog – will be forced to take account of energy security and the cost to households when advising ministers on carbon emissions.

Rishi Sunak is facing a difficult election with the Tories trailing in the polls to Labour – and facing challenges from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK

Other countries outside the UK have revisited their net zero plans in recent years.

New Zealand, which had a moratorium on drilling for oil and gas, has since revoked its ban amid fears of blackouts. 

The exploration policy was reintroduced by the centre-right National government elected last year.

Ms Coutinho’s comments comes as the Tories continue to slump in the polls as Rishi Sunak seeks to bat off ongoing ire at his decision to leave a D-Day commemoration ceremony early to film a TV interview.

Mr Sunak has apologised – but has nevertheless continued to invoke the wrath of D-Day veterans and some within his own party, including Penny Mordaunt, who called his decision to leave early ‘very wrong‘.

As well as its fight with Labour, the Conservative Party is also batting off the threat of Reform UK – headed up by newly returned leader Nigel Farage, who will be standing in the Essex seat of Clacton.

Labour was contacted for comment.