Reacting to the Office for National Statistics’ new data on the UK low carbon and renewable energy economy for 2018 released on Thursday (16 Jan), Head of Markets, Policy and Regulation at Energy Systems Catapult George Day said:

“The overall growth in this crucial sector is fantastic news and underlines that where robust policy frameworks are in place — as they are for renewable power — innovation and good jobs follow.

“The next challenge is to replicate this success in areas where more progress is needed, particularly in buildings.

“All buildings need to be zero carbon by 2050, and we will need new technologies that work for buildings old and new. Crucially, we also need a massive new workforce with the skills to transform the building stock in every part of the UK.

“The market for energy in buildings is huge – worth billions of pounds. To tap into this, businesses will need to retool and radically reskill to deliver zero carbon heating products and services that people desire.

“But kick-starting this market requires robust policy, including: carbon performance ratings on buildings; regional retrofit programmes; and rolling out local area energy planning to prioritise investment for local needs.

“The right mix of policies will reward the innovators who come up with the clean energy solutions our country needs to meet net zero.”