While In Opposition, the UK Labour Party has set out some ambitious plans for power sector decarbonisation, with a mission to deilver 'clean power' by 2030. This report looks at how, if elected, it could meet this aim, specifically exploring the barriers to faster power sector decarbonisation and steps that could accelerate delivery.

Should Labour be returned to power for the first time in 14 years, what it says and does in its first days in government will be critical to meeting its clean power target. Keir Starmer, as Prime Minister, will need to immediately set out how he will deliver on his commitments.

Major barriers include lack of grid capacity, stretched supply chains, shortages of skilled workers, insufficient public engagement, and a need to make the planning system work much faster if energy targets are going to be hit. This last point is key - average waits to get consent for 'nationally significant infrastructure' increased from 2.6 to 4.2 years between 2012 and 2023.

This report looks at what a potential Labour government would need to do to make progress on that target – from the first week, the first month, and the first 100 days. It will need to start knocking down some of these barriers and laying the foundation for fast-paced power sector decarbonisation, and the transition to net zero more widely.