G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD
COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM1
May 2024

Synopsis
OVERALL COUNTRY SCORE: 229/400

The UK is not currently on track to have a net zero power system by 2035,
but has good latent potential to achieve that target – and potentially evensooner. The country must continue to build out the full pipeline of potential
offshore wind, and remove barriers to scaling onshore wind and solar. It mustalso focus on scaling low-carbon assets, such as demand side flexibility and longduration storage, as well as removing barriers in the planning system and grid
network. Commendably, the UK is set to entirely stop using coal in power
generation – but does not yet have a clear plan to do the same with gas and is infact building new stations. More focus on decarbonising buildings will also
support the development of a low-cost, efficient net zero power system.
Headline message – Benchmarks 1–2 (Section 1: Infrastructure/Energy mix)
SCORE: 52/120

The UK has a relatively high share of low-carbon energy sources in the power
mix. This is made up of nuclear and renewables; notably, a large capacity of
nuclear is set to retire within the next decade. The UK is making progress
towards renewables becoming a high share of the electricity system, with solar
and wind producing 33% of the UK’s electricity in 2023.2 Coal power stations,which were briefly on standby while there were concerns over gas availability,
are now almost all closed. The final coal power station in the UK is set to close in
September 2024. However, the UK is still building new gas power stations – andis set to continue, without yet having a clear exit strategy.
Headline message – Benchmarks 3–5 (Section 2: Policies/Targets)
SCORE: 177/280

The UK’s target to decarbonise the power system by 2035 is welcome, but would
benefit from being made clearer and more robust. It has an ambitious target to
1 To see the whole Scorecard, including the scoring methodology, visit https://www.e3g.org/g7-power-systems-scorecard
2 Ember, 2024, Record fall in UK and EU power sector emissions in 2023

1

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

phase out coal, but lacks an equivalent target for phasing out gas. The UK has awide array of policies underway to prepare for the transition to a renewablesbased system. These need to be pulled together into an overarching strategy forcreating a net zero power system by 2035 – or sooner.
The UK is falling behind in some areas – including low rates of delivery on energy
efficiency schemes, and slow progress towards transitioning to heat pumps.
Across the UK, long lag times in connecting to the network are causing major
issues for the renewables industry. The planning system is also slowing down therollout of renewables.
The UK shows good international leadership, which it can strengthen further by
joining the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, and providing more financial support to
the Just Energy Transition Partnerships.

Benchmark 1: Reducing fossil fuel reliance
SCORE: 25/60

Coal power stations, which were briefly on standby during concerns over gas
availability, are now almost all closed: the final coal power station in the UK is set
to close in September 2024. However, the UK is still building new gas power
stations – and is set to continue – with these being used to provide a highpercentage of the UK’s electricity. The UK’s fossil fuel use is reduced by a legacy
fleet of nuclear power stations which are set to retire within the next decade.
These need to be replaced by the rapid rollout of renewables and other lowcarbon assets for energy security.
1.1 New unabated coal and gas power plants in planning or construction
SCORE: 4/15

The UK has no new coal power stations in the pipeline, but new gas plants are
set to be procured now and in the future. Currently there are approximately
8 GW of new gas capacity in the pipeline, most of it in the pre-construction
stage.3 The ambition is that these will mainly be used as flexibility and back-up
capacity. There is also policy in development in the UK to ensure new gas power
stations are built so that they can be decarbonised in the future. However, thishas not yet been introduced and the efficacy is unclear.

3 Global Energy Monitor, February 2024, Oil and Gas Power Plant Tracker – Summary tables

2

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

1.2 Share in electricity generation: fossil fuels
SCORE: 7/15

In 2023 the share of fossil fuel generation in the power mix was approximately
39.9%, with gas accounting for over 85% of total fossil fuel-based generation.4
1.3 Share in electricity generation: non-renewable low-carbon tech
SCORE: 4/15

14% of the UK’s electricity was generated by nuclear power plants in 2023. It is
worth noting that a large capacity of nuclear is set to retire within the next
decade.5
1.4 Carbon intensity of power index
SCORE: 10/15

In 2023 the carbon intensity of electricity in the UK was 237.59 gCO2/kWh, thethird-lowest level in the G7 after France and Canada.6

Benchmark 2: Ramping up renewables
SCORE: 27/60

The UK is making progress towards renewables making up a high share of theelectricity system. Solar and wind produced 32.7% of the UK’s electricity in 2023,
with wind playing the key role.7 However, deployment must be ramped up
further if the country is to stay on track. The 2023 Contracts for Difference (CfD)
auction – the main policy mechanism to boost renewables in the UK – failed to
procure new offshore wind, and it does not look like the 2024 auction will makeup the shortfall. There are still barriers to the construction of onshore wind,which is effectively banned under the UK’s planning system. The UK needs toredouble its efforts and rapidly resolve these challenges.

4 Ember, Electricity Data Explorer (online database; data retrieved April 2024)
5 World Nuclear Association, March 2024, Nuclear power in the United Kingdom
6 Carbon Brief, 2024, Analysis: UK electricity from fossil fuels drops to lowest level since 1957
7 Ember, Electricity Data Explorer (online database; data retrieved April 2024)

3

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

2.1 Share of variable RES in electricity generation
SCORE: 8/15

In 2023 the share of variable RES generation (solar and wind) in the power mix
was 32.7%.8 Wind-based generation plays the dominant role with 28.1% of thetotal power mix, while solar-based generation contributed 4.6%.9 The
renewables industry has seen impressive growth. However, the 2023 CfD auction– the main policy mechanism to boost renewables in the UK – failed to procure
new offshore wind, and it does not look like the 2024 auction will make up theshortfall. There are still barriers to the construction of onshore wind, which iseffectively banned under the UK’s planning system.
2.2 Share of other RES in electricity generation
SCORE: 3/15

In 2023 the share of “other” RES capacity in the power mix was 12.7%. Biomass
contributed the largest share – 10.9%.10 We note that there are sustainability
and social justice concerns about Drax; the National Audit Office has recently
posed questions about the government’s continued support for this wood pelletburning plant.11
2.3 Variable RES pipeline capacity vs country’s announced target
SCORE: 8/15

The UK was on track to have an impressive capacity of renewables by 2030, but
procurement slowed in the last year, rather than ramping up. The 2023
renewables auction failed to procure new offshore wind, and the next looks set
to not make up the difference. Major planning barriers remain which hinder therollout of onshore wind.
The UK has 128.4 GW wind projects in the pipeline, 92% of which risk notdelivering (45.5 GW are only announced, 72.8 GW are in a pre-construction
stage).
UK has 20.4 GW of utility-scale solar projects in the pipeline, 95% of which risk
not delivering (3.3 GW only announced, 16.1 GW in the pre-construction stage).
8 Ember, Electricity Data Explorer: United Kingdom https://ember-climate.org/data/data-tools/data-

explorer/
9 Ember, Electricity Data Explorer (online database; data retrieved April 2024)
10 Ember, Electricity Data Explorer (online database; data retrieved April 2024)
11 National Audit Office, January 2024, The government’s support for biomass

4

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOMGiven how many projects are yet to enter the construction stage, the risk of notdelivering on targets is high unless the financing and permitting processes can befacilitated.12
2.4 Average permitting time for VRE
SCORE: 8/15

In 2022 the government said that they would cut consent times for new offshore
wind farms from four years down to one. It is unclear what progress has been
made against this target.13

Benchmark 3: Adapting power systems to high RES
share
SCORE: 71/120

The UK is making good progress to adapt the power system for a high capacity of
renewables. In many places policies are in development or in the early stages of
implementation. These policies now need to be delivered at pace and to a highstandard to start having a real-world impact. For example, the promised support
mechanisms for hydrogen to power and long duration storage need to beestablished and rapidly start funding projects.
3.1 Policies to limit curtailment to a minimum that ensures optimal RES
capacity utilisation
SCORE: 8/15

Curtailment is on the rise and is raising the cost of managing the electricity
system. Great Britain had 3.4 TWh of curtailment in 2022.14 There are someactions underway to seek to address this, but more action is needed.
The government is looking to build new transmission lines and to accelerate
planning and consent time, which will speed up the rollout of renewables andreduce curtailment. At a market design level, the government is considering the
introduction of stronger locational pricing to reduce curtailment. The
government is also looking to boost long-duration storage and demand side
12 Based on the Global Energy Monitor data on planned solar and wind power capacity in the “announced”

and “pre-construction” categories: Global Energy Monitor, Global wind power tracker and Global Energy
Monitor, Global solar power tracker (both last updated December 2023)
13 UK government, April 2022, British energy security strategy (PDF)
14 Carbon Tracker, June 2023, Britain wastes enough wind generation to power 1 million homes

5

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

flexibility to permanently reduce these costs – although is yet to bring thesemechanisms forward.
The electricity system operator for Great Britain, National Grid Electricity System
Operator (National Grid ESO), has also taken steps to try and reduce the cost of
curtailment. For example, they have introduced a Local Constraint Market15
which pays consumers in Scotland to turn up their demand when renewables
would otherwise be curtailed. It is important to note that Scotland is the locationof the majority of renewable curtailment.
3.2 Active steps by the national grid operator to plan for short spells of 100%
RE power
SCORE: 12/15

Great Britain’s system operator, National Grid ESO, has a target to be able tooperate periods of zero carbon operation by 2025 and a clean grid by 2035.
They have a set of programmes underway to trial how services currently
provided by fossil fuel generators (like inertia and black start) can be provided by
low-carbon assets.16
The government is currently consulting on National Grid ESO being mandated tocreate an electricity system operability strategy for 2035 to outline how thistarget will be met, and how system operability can be maintained.
3.3 Effective policies to ramp up electricity storage
SCORE: 7/15

The short-duration storage market is progressing, but barriers remain. The longduration storage market is still nascent. Great Britain is still awaiting the creationof a support mechanism.17
Short- and medium-term storage is being deployed across the UK, with themarket gradually building. Policies are underway to remove barriers – starting in2017 through the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, which was updated in 2018and 2021. This progress needs to continue amid the changing landscape.

15 ESO, Local Constraint Market (webpage, accessed April 2024)
16 ESO, Network services procurement (webpage, accessed April 2024)
17 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, March 2024, Long duration electricity storage consultation

6

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOMThe need for long-duration storage has been identified as an area in need offurther development. There is not yet a route to market for these technologies,
but a funding mechanism has been promised by the end of 2024.
3.4 Effective policies to increase end use flexibility
SCORE: 11/15

There are policies to enable and encourage demand side response (DSR), but the
UK is yet to fulfil its full potential in this area. A wider range of policies areneeded to fully realise the benefits.
There are both suppliers and aggregators in the UK offering flexibility
propositions to consumers. Since the launch of the UK’s Smart Systems andFlexibility Plan in 2017,18 some of the barriers to DSR participating in markets
have been removed. However, the penetration of smart meters is still relatively
low, with only 54% of all meters in households and small businesses in GreatBritain operating smartly by the end of 2023.19 It is also still not clear whether
DSR will become the norm for electric vehicle (EV) drivers without further
intervention to educate consumers on these options, and ensure theiraccessibility.
Non-domestic DSR has struggled in recent years. Additional support and policies
are needed to achieve this option’s full potential.
3.5 Effective policies to accelerate grid development
SCORE: 7/15

The UK’s electricity industry is suffering from chronic difficulties in connecting to
the electricity network, with long delays and issues with “zombie” projects in thequeuing system. Work is underway to try and resolve this, but the pace needs toaccelerate.
The need to build additional transmission networks has long been highlighted,
and has finally received high level political support. Processes are underway toplan where these new transmission lines should be built, but there are concerns
these are still too slow. A set of reforms is to be introduced to try and accelerate

18 UK government, 2017, Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan
19 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, March 2024, Smart meter statistics in Great Britain:

Quarterly report to end December 2023

7

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

the process, which include looking to ensure communities are engaged early, andenvironmental assessments are an integral part of the process.
National Grid ESO has also taken steps to improve the use of the current
networks through smart solutions. This is admirable progress, but there is still
considerably more work to be done before the network issues are fully resolved.
3.6 Effective policies to enable the required digitalisation of power systems
SCORE: 10/15

The value of digitalising the electricity system has been identified and work isgoing on to embed this across several areas.
Great Britain has an Energy System Digitalisation Strategy and Action Plan.20 The
smart meter rollout is underway, though as mentioned, this is progressing slower
than planned. Reforms are underway to modernise the retail market andpromote smart tariffs.
Several taskforces have explored how data can be made more available
throughout the industry, with particular focus on network companies. This has
led to regulation to encourage networks to make data available.
National Grid ESO and the Distribution Network Operators are also trying to
improve use of networks through digitalised flexibility markets. There is still
more to be done to improve these Distribution System Operators’ markets,making them more coordinated and outward facing.
3.7 Effective mechanisms or frameworks to prevent preferential treatment forfossil fuel-based generation over RES on the market
SCORE: 10/15

There have been several policies and frameworks which support the constructionof renewables – including Contracts for Difference, feed-in tariffs, the Renewable
Obligation, and various other market mechanisms to support deployment.
However, there is also support being given to new gas power stations. There isnot currently a clear process to decide where one is prioritised over the other.

20 National Grid ESO, 2023, The ESO Digitalisation Strategy and Action Plan

8

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

3.8 Electrification rate target and roadmap to support delivery
SCORE: 6/15

There is no overarching target for electrification. The need to electrify housing,transport and some areas of industry has been highlighted. This has not yet beenbacked up with commensurate policy to deliver it – and many policies originally
set out in the 2021 Heat and Buildings Strategy have recently been delayed andderailed.
The government has a target to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028, but
is not currently on track to deliver this – and regularly comes bottom of theleague table for heat pump installations. Some recent steps have been taken to
seek to increase deployment, such as by increasing the scale of the grant. This is
welcome, but further policy action is needed to create a mass market – forexample, by reducing heat pump running costs. Currently, levies paid on energy
bills are disproportionately loaded on electricity, making it more expensive perunit than gas.
The sale of internal combustion engines is due to end by 2035, recently moved
back from 2030. Nonetheless, this is an area where the UK is generally making
steady progress. Further action could be considered to support more active
travel and affordable public transport.
There is not yet policy to support the electrification of industry though the needhas been highlighted. A lack of overarching plans for electricity and hydrogen ismaking it harder for industry to plan and invest, and as with households, thehigher running costs of electricity can act as a disincentive for electrification.

Benchmark 4: Governance / International leadership
SCORE: 56/80

While the UK’s target to decarbonise the power system by 2035 is welcome, itwould benefit from being made clearer and more robust. It needs to be backed
up by a more robust strategy for creating a net zero power system by 2035 (orsooner), including a focus on phasing out the use of gas. Engagement
internationally has been positive, with examples of leadership, but there areopportunities for the UK to go further.

9

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

4.1 2035 carbon neutral power system commitment adopted in national
legislation
SCORE: 8/10

The UK is committed to decarbonising power by 2035 “subject to security ofsupply”.
This caveat makes the target vaguer and less robust. It allows the government toachieve its target while still having substantial emissions from unabated gas
power stations.
4.2 Global leadership on supporting power systems decarbonisation indeveloping countries
SCORE: 7/10

The UK has shown good leadership in this space in many ways, but the lack offunding for Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) needs addressing.
The UK has taken a welcome leadership role in the Clean Energy Transition
Partnership and the Clean Green Initiative. It has also shown signs of positive
leadership on JETPs, but this is limited as the UK has failed to follow up with thepromised funding.
The UK had made welcome high-level statements of support for decarbonisationsuch as the Clean Green Initiative and the G7 statement on phase-out ofinternational financing for unabated coal.
4.3 International commitments on power systems decarbonisation throughalliances or networks such as the PPCA, Glasgow Coal to Clean Power Initiative,
etc.
SCORE: 8/10

The UK has made clear international commitments to phase out coal and has
engaged with several networks to promote this action.
The UK has engaged with the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) and The Clean
Energy Transition Partnership, and has provided clean energy transition support
through the Energy Transition Council.
UK participation in other fossil fuel related diplomatic initiatives beyond thepower sector such as Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) would be helpful in

10

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

securing a more joined up, comprehensive approach among these different
initiatives and help strengthen UK leadership. Disappointingly, this hasn’t
happened yet as the current government is still encouraging new oil and gas
production in the North Sea basin.
4.4 Net zero power system roadmap to drive delivery of the 2035 commitment
SCORE: 6/10

The UK has released several high-level strategies for decarbonising the power
sector. There now needs to be a much more coherent roadmap on rollout andimplementation.
The country has produced several policy documents relating to power
decarbonisation. However, independent government advisors at the Climate
Change Committee and National Infrastructure Commission warn that a clearer
plan is needed.
The Climate Change Committee have said that the government “has not yet
provided a coherent strategy to achieve its goal nor provided essential details on
how it will encourage the necessary investment and infrastructure to be
deployed over the next 12 years. This is urgently needed.”21
The UK government has released several reports, notably the Energy Security
Strategy 2022 and the Strategic Policy Statement. It has also set up the National
Energy System Operator.
4.5 Critical role of renewables, interconnection, and demand side measuresreflected in the country’s energy security framework
SCORE: 8/10

Policy generally supports the deployment of renewables, interconnectors,
energy efficiency measures and DSR, and acknowledges their value in boostingenergy security.
Since the start of the gas crisis, the government has identified the value of
renewables in boosting energy security by reducing the country’s reliance oninternational commodities. There has also been work to boost DSR. This has
included work to ensure they are properly considered within energy security
arrangements and can fully participate.
21 Climate Change Committee, 2023, Delivering a reliable decarbonised power system

11

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOMThe UK has targets for energy efficiency but is failing to meet them. It also rarely
considers the value of energy efficiency in the context of the electricity systemand there is no mechanism for it to be valued for its contribution to energy
security.
4.6 Unabated coal phase-out date and roadmap to support delivery
SCORE: 10/10

The UK aims to have entirely phased out unabated coal power stations by theend of 2024.
The UK is on track to meet its target. Coal generated only 2% of UK electricity in
2022, a reduction of 94% from 2010.22 There is now only one coal power station
still open in the UK – Ratcliffe on Soar power station – and it is set to close in
September 2024.23,24
4.7 Unabated gas phase-out date and roadmap to support delivery
SCORE: 0/10

The government does not have a target date to fully phase out gas use in the
power sector. While it has a 2035 target to decarbonise power, the way thistarget is defined still allows for continued use of gas. It also does not have astrategy as to how it will reduce gas use and take gas power stations offline by2035.
The UK has a target to decarbonise power by 2035 subject to security of supply,
however it does not have a clear target to phase out gas power stations or aroadmap to fully reduce their use. To reduce the need for gas power stations,
support mechanisms need to be set up for low-carbon flexibility assets, such ashydrogen to power and long-duration storage.
The UK is also considering introducing emissions limits for gas power stations.
These may apply from 2034 for any new gas power stations procured throughthe Capacity Market after 2026.
The government is also considering requiring new gas power stations to be built
able to decarbonise. Much more work is needed to introduce this policy, to pull
22 Ember, March 2023, The UK’s coal to clean journey
23 Power Stations of the UK, Coal countdown (webpage, accessed April 2024)
24 Uniper, February 2023, Clarification on Ratcliffe on Soar power station closure date

12

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

it into a single coordinated strategy and to ensure it is sufficient to meet thetarget.
4.8 2030 target for share of total RES in electricity generation
SCORE: 9/10

The UK has various targets for renewable energy generation, although it lacks anoverarching target and a specific target for onshore wind. Nonetheless, thecurrent targets for renewables roughly equate to over 80% clean power by 2030.
Great Britain has a target to deploy 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 70 GW
of solar by 2035. The Scottish Government has a target to deploy 20 GW ofonshore wind by 2030.
Northern Ireland has a target for 80% of consumed electricity to come fromrenewable sources by 2030, as well as technology specific targets.
There is no target across the other areas of the UK for onshore wind or theoverall proportion of energy to be supplied by renewable sources. There is also a
UK target for there to be 24 GW of nuclear power in 2050.

Benchmark 5: Reducing energy waste
SCORE: 50/80

The current government has set an ambition to reduce energy demand by 15%
from 2021 levels by 2030. However, there is no overarching strategy to deliver
the target and the current fragmented policies are struggling to deliver.
Despite problems, energy efficiency has improved over the past two decades. To
continue and steepen the UK’s trajectory of improvements, a more strategic
approach and increased investment are needed.
5.1 Efficient policies to retrofit / renovate buildings
SCORE: 11/20

There are several domestic energy efficiency policies in place, but these arelargely underdelivering. The policy landscape needs to be improved with greater
focus on implementation particularly for badly insulated and low efficiency
buildings.

13

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOMBy 2035, the government aims to have upgraded as many of the 15 million
homes below Energy Performance Certificate level C (EPC C) as possible. If
deployment continues at its current rate, it would take roughly 173 years tomeet this target. England has a statutory target to upgrade as many fuel-poor
homes as possible which are below EPC C before 2030.25 At the current rate thiswill take around 73 years. Thus, there is a significant need to ramp up delivery, orthese targets will be missed by a wide margin.
The UK also plans to improve the efficiency of domestic heating systems andreduce emissions by transitioning to electric heating, predominantly using air
source heat pumps. The UK has an interim target to install 600,000 heat pumps ayear in 2028. However, in 2022, the country installed only 55,000 heat pumps,
meaning installations will need to ramp up significantly in the following four
years to meet the target.
In the past decade, the UK and devolved governments have introduced 30
policies to improve the efficiency of buildings. Many of the policies are specific toeach of the four devolved nations. These policies have struggled to deliver, often
significantly underspending their budget. The reasons for this include a decade of
reduced investment (2012–2022), a limited number of skilled installers,
inconsistent and changeable scheme guidelines, a decade of cuts to local
authority budgets and the high cost of delivering to new standards.
5.2 National energy / power savings target
SCORE: 11/20

There was a target to reduce energy consumption from buildings and industry by
15% by 2030 compared to 2021, which is suitably ambitious. However, it isunclear if the target is still in place, as there have been no public reports since its
introduction in 2021. An Energy Efficiency Taskforce was set up to help thegovernment to achieve the target, but it was disbanded shortly after its creation.
There is no policy strategy to show how the target will be achieved and the UK iscurrently not on track to meet this target.

25 UK government, March 2015, Cutting the cost of keeping warm – a fuel poverty strategy for England

14

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM

5.3 Sufficient spending on energy efficiency programmes
SCORE: 10/20

Though government investment in energy efficiency has increased recently froma very low level, there is an urgent need to boost delivery to meet the statutory
fuel poverty target and the 2035 target for energy efficiency in domestic
buildings. Also, these increases need to be partnered with improved policy
design (discussed in 5.1) to be effective.
Investment in energy efficiency has increased in recent years, but this follows asignificant fall in investment between 2012 and 2020 – which significantly
damaged supply chains. The coalition government (2010–2015) drastically cut
investment in energy efficiency, which has led to a reduction in the installer
workforce. Targeted policies are now needed to boost skills and supply chains.
In 2020, investment in energy efficiency was increased substantially, andmaintained. The government has promised another tranche of funding between
2025 and 2028 which will increase annual investment by around 5% or£100 million. These increases in investment are welcome, but need to be
partnered with improved policy design (discussed above) to be effective. With
improved delivery, the overall investment envelope needs to be increased
significantly to meet targets on home decarbonisation and fuel poverty.
5.4 High-quality appliance and equipment standards and labelling
SCORE: 18/20

The UK has appliance and equipment standards and labelling through energy
labels and Ecodesign. The energy labels have recently been re-scaled to reflect
the higher energy efficiency of new appliances. The UK was ranked as havingsome of the best Minimum Energy Performance Standards of the world’s large
economies.26

26 Clasp, January 2023, World’s best MEPS: Identifying top energy efficiency standards for priority

appliances

15

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOMAbout E3G
E3G is an independent climate change think tank with a global outlook. We workon the frontier of the climate landscape, tackling the barriers and advancing thesolutions to a safe climate. Our goal is to translate climate politics, economics
and policies into action.
E3G builds broad-based coalitions to deliver a safe climate, working closely withlike-minded partners in government, politics, civil society, science, the media,
public interest foundations and elsewhere to leverage change.
More information is available at www.e3g.org
Copyright
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 4.0 License. © E3G 2024

16

G7 POWER SYSTEMS SCORECARD – COUNTRY PROFILE: UNITED KINGDOM