Public support of renewables high in face or Russia war

A new survey has found that 59 per cent of people are willing to pay more on their energy bills if it helps undermine Russia’s war on Ukraine. Similarly, 57 per cent believe the best way to end UK dependance on Russian gas is to expand renewables.

The polling by Opinium was conducted for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), in light of the government’s decision to phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of 2022.

The UK gets 4% of its gas demand from Russia. According to the ECIU, at today’s wholesale gas price, the UK would spend £2.3billion on Russian gas in a year, equivalent to £6.3million per day, if it continues to import that amount of gas from Russia.

Replacing Russian LNG (liquified natural gas) in the short-term with other sources, likely LNG from other countries, could add to UK costs with the international price of gas so high. According to experts, it would take years to bring extra North Sea sources online, with new wells not reaching peak output until 2028, before declining a few years later.

The polling also found a clear majority (57 per cent) of the public see the best way of eliminating UK dependence on Russian gas in the longer-term as reducing use of gas all together, and instead expanding renewables. Less than a third (29%) see increasing the UK’s domestic supply of gas through expanded drilling and fracking as the solution.

Commenting, Dr Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of analysis at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: “Brits are willing to chip in to get the UK off Russian gas and see net zero policies as the solution, which means expanding British renewables and insulating homes so they waste less energy. More gas won’t bring down the energy bills of those struggling to pay, but insulation can and does so permanently.”

Saqib Bhatti, MP for Meriden, said: “As Europe moves away from the Kremlin’s gas, energy prices will rise, but net zero offers the solution. Renewables offer a route to cheap, clean homegrown energy. That is why the government has the right approach with its net zero ambitions.

“In the short term, this research shows people want to see the government step up efforts to install insulation and heat pumps that are now cheaper to run than gas boilers. This could help reduce our exposure to volatile global gas markets and lower bills.”

The ECIU states that installation of insulation and heat pumps will help to reduce gas use among households. The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme starts in April, making £5,000 available for homes to switch from gas boilers to electric heat pumps. There are an estimated 9 million homes in the UK that have good levels of thermal efficiency and could have a heat pump fitted easily.

British Gas owner Centrica is in talks to exit its supply deals with Russian gas firm Gazprom “as a matter of urgency.” And dockers in Kent have refused to unload two tankers carrying Russian gas.