E3G, an independent climate change think tank, published a briefing on 19 March 2022 setting out what it describes as the most rapid route to cutting energy bills and ending Russian gas imports, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine1.
The briefing states that by 2025, energy efficiency, clean heat and renewables alone could replace four times the gas the UK currently imports from Russia, and that this is faster than the time taken to construct a new oil and gas field1. It identifies onshore wind and solar power as the electricity sources that can reduce reliance on Russian gas fastest, given their short construction times, and says planning bottlenecks can be resolved through changes to regulation1.
On domestic fossil fuel production, the briefing says existing oil and gas production should continue to be used, but that future licensing rounds will not play a part in eliminating reliance on Russian gas because of the long time to bring projects online1. It adds that additional domestic production will do nothing to change the prices consumers pay for oil and gas, which are set by the international market1.
"Energy efficiency measures and clean heating installations are the quickest way for the UK to reduce its dependence on expensive gas, eliminate Russian imports and lower consumers' energy bills for the long term."
The briefing says government can increase renewables deployment this decade by ensuring all relevant bodies have a mandate aligned with the UK's 2035 net zero power system target, scaling up support to attract renewable supply chain investment to the UK, and setting ambitious interim targets for renewables technologies1. The briefing does not set out household-level cost figures for insulation or heating measures, and no estimate of the number of homes affected has been reported1.
Why it matters for households
Most UK homes rely on gas for heating and hot water, so the pace at which gas demand falls is tied directly to how exposed a household is to international gas prices. The briefing's argument is that reducing that demand through energy efficiency and clean heating is quicker than waiting for new domestic gas fields, which it says would not affect the prices consumers pay1. For a household, the practical link between where Britain's gas and electricity come from and the bill is the share of supply exposed to international markets. The briefing frames faster renewables build as a route to energy independence at national level, while noting that planning rules are the constraint on how quickly onshore wind and solar can be added1.
What happens next
The briefing sets 2025 as the point by which it says efficiency, clean heat and renewables could replace four times the Russian gas volume, and refers to the UK's 2035 net zero power system target as the framework for aligning public bodies1. It calls for interim targets for renewables technologies but does not give dates for those targets, and no government response to the briefing has been reported1.