A zealot’s delusion can’t prevent blackouts

The Neso report is not a vindication of Mr Miliband’s approach but a warning of how dangerous it has become

As an exercise in wishful thinking, Ed Miliband’s response to a new report on his plans to decarbonise the electricity grid within five years would take some beating. He commissioned a body called the National Energy System Operator (Neso) to examine the feasibility of his plans amid widespread scepticism in the industry that it was remotely achievable.
Neso said this accelerated timetable (it was originally planned for 2035) could technically be met but would require a Herculean effort on every front. Nearly 620 miles of new power lines would have to be built at a time when demands for other construction projects were being expanded amid a desperate shortage of workers.
In addition, millions more people would have to be persuaded to turn off their power at night to conserve energy. Most ministers would consider this analysis and conclude that the 2030 target is far too ambitious, even reckless.
Not Mr Miliband. He greeted the report as a “rebuke to those who said it couldn’t be done”. But it hasn’t been done. Mr Miliband is suffering from the zealot’s delusion that simply wishing something would happen will make it so.
Local objections to the power lines and pylons that will snake their way across the countryside will lead to legal challenges. Mr Miliband indicated these would be overcome by legislation forcing the plans through on grounds of national security. He has already over-ridden planning refusals for new solar farms in eastern England and will do the same for pylons.
Once again he maintained that this means cheaper energy, even though electricity in the UK is more expensive for businesses than anywhere in the industrialised world. In a newspaper article he said: “We will get our country off the rollercoaster of volatile fossil fuel markets so we can deliver cheaper electricity.” Yet even if he does hit his target it will be necessary to use gas as a backup on windless, sunless days. That will mean relying on other countries for supplies.
With old nuclear power plants about to be decommissioned, what happened to the idea of a fleet of small modular reactors to replace them? Are they to be part of his mix of renewables?
The Neso report is not a vindication of Mr Miliband’s approach but a warning of how dangerous it has become. It will be touch and go to avoid the lights going out before the next election. Sir Keir Starmer has been warned.