Much of Yorkshire and the Humber’s progress on emissions reduction since 2000 has been driven by changes in our energy system

We have led the way in renewable energy production, particularly offshore wind, and contribute a large supply of energy to the UK’s power grid. Whilst this has significantly helped to lower emissions, there is still much more to do to transform the energy system into one that is zero carbon, affordable, fair, reliable and secure in the face of climate impacts and global instability.

Electricity will be central to meeting our future energy demands. Electricity use is set to increase as we move away from fossil fuel technologies, such as gas boilers and conventional private vehicles. Our electricity generation is increasingly renewable, and investment should focus primarily on provable, scalable technologies such as offshore and onshore wind and solar, which will need to be complemented by grid flexibility such as battery storage and other measures that can manage demand. If any high-carbon-emitting power plants remain, they will need to incorporate carbon capture and storage (CCS) – a technology which is not yet proven at scale.

The energy system will become increasingly complex and requires planning and coordination at the local, regional and national scales. A more distributed and smart energy system offers opportunities for greater diversity in ownership of energy assets, including by communities. Our region has lagged behind many others in the development of community energy, which can give citizens a real stake in the energy transition and enable returns on energy generation to directly benefit local neighbourhoods.

Neither our region nor the UK will meet its decarbonisation targets without also reducing energy demand, especially in buildings and transport, and improving efficiency is essential to reducing energy bills for homes and businesses. Reducing energy demand also increases energy security and means the amount of carbon removal required – through technologies such as CCS and nature-based solutions such as tree planting – is also reduced, cutting risks, costs and the amount of land needed.

Finally, there are technologies such as hydrogen and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) that may play a part in our future energy system, but need to be the subject of an informed public debate weighing up the costs and benefits to society and to nature.

We know we’re succeeding when…

The grid can meet the demand of an electricitydependent economy, powered by renewable energy and balanced with other demandmanagement measures and battery storage.

• The energy supply is more secure and affordable, and includes a mixture of large and small-scale generation and community ownership.

• The energy system is engaging with and benefiting communities, with a measurable expansion in community energy schemes in our region; local energy systems are smart and meet local needs, and provide local jobs and skills; and at least 20% of homes are connected to district heat, making the most of waste heat where possible.

• The energy system is equipped for the changing climate and is resilient to increased droughts, floods and wildfires.

• The relationship between nature’s restoration and energy generation is better understood, with space made for both.