How to avoid blackouts on the road to net zero

Can we get to net zero and still keep the lights on? It’s a question that was thrust to the forefront of the agenda last February, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves across the energy market. With Europe now facing the once unthinkable prospect of blackouts, energy security has become more urgent than ever. But how does it affect the decarbonisation agenda?

In the late autumn, The Spectator had a chance to discuss that very topic, when we hosted a special roundtable lunch (made possible by the energy company Uniper) at Old Queen Street. With a number of energy experts and analysts around the table, our economics editor Kate Andrews sought to explore the big questions around decarbonisation and energy security.

As chair of Uniper’s UK operations, Mike Lockett was well aware of the short-term challenges facing UK energy supply. While the Germany-based international company was investing heavily in ambitious renewable projects – including a major hydrogen scheme alongside Shell – it also operated coal and gas-fuelled power stations, including in Britain.