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Rishi Sunak has appointed Grant Shapps as the secretary of state heading up the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The appointment was part of the Prime Minister’s breaking up of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the creation of three new departments: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; and the Department for Business and Trade.
The move has been described as “very welcome” by Chris Skidmore MP – author of the recent Mission Zero Report – who tweeted: “Very welcome news to see the creation of a new Energy and Net Zero Department- something I called for last August in @horton_official interview. A clear sign that gov is aware of the increasing importance of co-ordinated net zero delivery as a priority.”
The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has cautiously welcomed the news, urging the government to adopt the recommendations of Chris Skidmore;s report.
Dr Nina Skorupska CBE FEI, Chief Executive of the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said:
An energy department with a focus on Net Zero is welcome, as long as the government now hits the ground running and avoids the usual delays while new departments are established.
Decision making in the sector has already been woefully delayed over the last few years, and a joined-up approach across these new departments is essential, as well as implementing the recommendations from Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero Report “Mission Zero”, which clearly stated that “Net Zero is the largest growth opportunity of the 21st century.”
The REA looks forward to working closely with the new departments to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and clean technology, tackling the joint energy and climate crises.
Other responses from industry have been similarly cautiously optimistic. Keith O’Connor, CEO of Fleetsolve, said:
What impact the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will have on energy policy remains to be seen. But, as a leading energy transition and carbon reduction company, Fleetsolve welcomes the creation of a department dedicated to the most pressing issues of our time.
We hope this signals a clear commitment from government to accelerate UK energy efficiency and decarbonisation. It is vital that help and support can be available for UK businesses to grasp the economic opportunities this presents.
We welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to create about the new Government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). By returning to a smaller and more focussed department we hope to see Government continue to work with industry on heat decarbonisation in a pragmatic and consumer centric fashion. Security of supply, customer affordability and decarbonisation all need to be considered in conjunction to ensure fairness in the energy transition.
