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A report from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), a non-profit research organisation, has said that increasing numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) will do more for the UK’s energy security than the issuing of new North Sea oil licences.
EVs are becoming a more common sight on British roads, thanks to the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate. This aims for 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030, ahead of 100% of new cars and new vans by 2035.
There are currently one million EVs on British roads. This is expected to increase by 5.3 million vehicles by 2030. According to ECIU analysis, at the same time the newly licensed North Sea fields are producing oil, the growing number of EVs could cut petrol imports by as much as the new oil licences, and possibly more.
This impact would exceed that of new oil licence beyond 2030, as the 100% EV deadline is approached.
The analysis has been published ahead of the delayed second reading of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill. The bill, which would set in motion annual oil and gas licensing rounds, has been presented by the government as critical for energy security. “The domestic oil and gas industry is vital to the UK’s energy security and economy,” a government statement said.
The ECIU argued that prioritising an accelerated scale-up of renewable energy production could contribute to producing the majority of electricity for these EVs within the UK and present a more lasting solution to bolstering energy security than issuing new oil licences.
“The licensing debate only distracts from a more permanent solution to securing the UK’s energy independence, which means building out British renewables more quickly to power homes and EVs, as well as cutting energy waste by insulating roofs. The government’s recent track record on some of these policy areas is less than stellar,” said Dr Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of analysis at ECIU.
“The government’s [EV] mandate policy is in effect an energy security policy weaning us off foreign oil imports as the North Sea’s output inevitably declines. But as the [Office for Budget Responsibility] has noted, last year’s government U-turn on the phase-out of sales and new petrol cars will likely reduce the number of EVs that might have been on the UK’s roads, weakening our energy security [and] leaving us more dependent on foreign oil.”
Earlier this month, the ECIU published analysis saying that the new oil and gas licences would provide just 1% of the fuels used in the UK. Approximately 80% of oil from the sites added by the new licences is expected to be exported.
The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill prompted the resignation of Chris Skidmore MP, who signed the UK’s net zero pledge during a brief stint as energy and clean growth minister in 2019.
