Local Member of Parliament Bim Afolami MP, who is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Renewable and Sustainable Energy, spoke to industry leaders and his fellow Parliamentarians at the Association for Decentralised Energy’s (ADE) Winter Reception on Tuesday (7th February).
Mr Afolami stressed the importance of decentralised energy – a form of energy generation where energy is generated off-grid and close to the end user, usually in smaller or localised projects. He noted the role that it can play in improving energy security, reaching net zero and reducing energy bills.
Bim Afolami MP said,
“Ensuring that we aren’t reliant on hostile state actors for our energy supplies is vitally important for energy security and protecting the wallets of households in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages. Decentralised energy is a great way of delivering energy security and cheap energy directly to local communities. That helps us to tackle energy bills and it also builds on our delivery of our net zero commitments.
“It was good to speak to industry at the ADE’s reception on Tuesday and hear directly from them about how we can work together to unlock the opportunities of decentralised energy. I look forward to working with Ministerial colleagues in the Government’s new focussed Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, who I am confident will appreciate and support the delivery of the opportunities that decentralised energy brings.”
Lily Frencham, CEO of the Association for Decentralised Energy, said,
“The UK’s industrial sites form the backbone of our economy, and they urgently need deliverable solutions to remaining competitive through the energy price crisis and on the journey to net euro by 2050. Decentralised energy technologies are a proven, no-regrets method of safeguarding a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supply, and we want the government to set out a clear pathway for industrial businesses to adopt them at scale.
“We thank Bim Afolami MP for his continued efforts in this space and his commitment to expanding the role of decentralised energy technologies across not just large industrial sites, but in all of our homes, public spaces and businesses. These technologies provide the best route forwards to a strong, secure and thriving economy as we transform the energy system into a model that is fit for the future.”
