Chris Stark, head of UK's Mission Control for Clean Power 2030, said that the UK needed to match the speed of electrification seen in China in order to become a new global superpower as the world moves toward net zero, according to a report by The Telegraph on Saturday. Stark's comments highlight both a recognition of China's rapid progress in energy transition
and the UK's urgent desire to accelerate its own efforts to become a low-carbon economy.
According to the action plan, in a typical weather year, the 2030 power system will see clean sources produce at least as much power as Great Britain consumes in total over the whole year, and at least 95 percent of Great Britain's generation.
But 2030 is not the distant future - it's just about five years away. According to the Guardian, an analysis by Carbon Brief found that when electricity generated by nuclear power is included, the total from low-carbon energy sources reached a record 58 percent in 2024. Even though the UK's electricity was reported to be the cleanest ever in 2024, with wind and solar generation reaching new highs, it seems the country still needs to go full throttle to meet its goals. Ideally, this effort will lead to a dynamic, rapidly evolving energy sector that embraces new technologies and ideas.
In this context, understanding the cutting-edge developments in global industries and continuously accelerating its own development based on this knowledge will be beneficial for the UK's vision of becoming an "electrostate."
Writing in The Telegraph, Stark said: "India, Sweden and China and many other countries recognize the future is electric - the blueprint for a more efficient economy and the basis for economic dominance in the decades to come. Britain should be among these new electrostates."
It's noteworthy that the 8th China-UK Energy Dialogue took place in March this year. According to a press release on the UK government's website, the dialogue marked the first time that Chinese and UK ministers met in Beijing for the first formal talks to accelerate climate action in nearly eight years.
Following the meeting, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on clean energy partnerships, which outlines key areas of cooperation, including electricity market reform, power grids, battery storage, and other sectors, according to a statement on the website of China's National Energy Administration.
China and the UK have complementary strengths in the field of new energy, and from an economic perspective, there is potential and a solid foundation for collaboration in areas like green electricity.
Citing analysts, the China Energy News reported in July that the UK needs to achieve technological breakthroughs, enhance supply chain resilience, and foster international cooperation to advance its energy transition. Given China's globally recognized prowess in the new-energy sector, the two countries may find new opportunities for collaboration.
Certainly, this partly depends on whether the UK can maintain a pragmatic approach to cooperation. If the UK continues to promote bilateral cooperation in green energy with a practical spirit, then such collaboration is expected to make a positive contribution to the UK's energy transition.
In the coming years, the impact of pragmatic cooperation on the UK's progress toward its clean power goals will become clear. The progress of China-UK cooperation in the field of new energy can also provide insights for other countries, especially those in the EU.
Editor:Evan
