The Onward report, which claims to offer a more cost-effective alternative to the UK's current net-zero policies, has been widely criticized for its flawed assumptions and methodology. Here are some of the key issues identified with the report:
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Increased Emissions: The "alternative policy pathway" (APP) proposed in the report would result in higher emissions compared to the business-as-usual scenario based on current net-zero policies. This contradicts the claim that abandoning net-zero targets will help reduce emissions.
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Slower Electrification: Despite lower electricity costs, the uptake of electric vehicles and heat pumps is expected to be slower under the APP due to the removal of supportive government subsidies and mandates. Overall electricity consumption would also be 7% lower in the APP compared to the current pathway.
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Unrealistic Gas Prices: The report assumes that gas prices will remain low and stable, which is unlikely given historical trends and the increasing costs associated with energy security and climate change mitigation.
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Underestimating Nuclear Costs: The report underestimates the high costs and delivery challenges of nuclear power projects, ignoring the significant delays and cost overruns seen in recent years.
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Inflated Network Costs: The network
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