All of the UK's electricity could be provided by renewables within the next 11 years, with hundreds of thousands of jobs created at the same time, new research suggests.
When unveiling its green recovery strategy this week, the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) said that renewables could provide 50% of electricity by 2022, rising to 100% by 2032.
When it comes to energy in general, the majority of demand from the heat and transport sectors could be met by renewable and clean technologies by 2035.
The REA also claimed that, with the right government support, 200,000 new jobs could be created in the renewable energy and clean technology sector during that time.
“It is now abundantly clear that the argument of an ‘either/or’ choice between tackling climate change and providing an economic boost is over,” said REA chief executive, Dr Nina Skorupska.
“Support for the renewable energy and clean technology sector will not only help the government reach its net-zero ambitions, but it could deliver hundreds of thousands of new jobs and return billions of pounds worth of investment too.”
The REA also outlined how all bio-waste could be either separated and recycled at source, or collected separately by the end of 2023.
However, it warned that a number of barriers will need to be removed, and said that the green industry needs a clear route to market, a fit-for-purpose grid network, and a wide mix of technologies, in order to thrive.
This comes after separate research published last October claimed that renewables could account for 60% of the UK's power system by 2025 if COVID-19 recovery funds were directed to green energy and away from fossil fuels.
Skorupska urged the government to show leadership on the world stage by following the REA's blueprint for economy recovery.
“With COP26 on the horizon, the government has an opportunity to make a bold statement – this strategy not only sets out several necessary and achievable targets, but it also provides the solutions to removing the barriers which could prevent those targets being met.
“Our strategy offers government the pathway to net zero and economic recovery – it is now up to them to deliver it.”
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