Britains Homegrown Energy Ambitions Falter Amid Rising Power Imports and Soaring Prices

Britain is more dependent than ever on imported electricity as new data reveals a record 16 per cent of energy consumed during the first nine months of this year was supplied by neighbours such as France via undersea interconnectors. This increase from 15.6 per cent the previous year poses a significant challenge to Ed Miliband’s ambitions for domestically generated wind and solar to power the bulk of the country’s grid.

July marked a watershed, with energy imports accounting for an unprecedented 19.5 per cent of Britain’s electricity usage, according to analysis by the Nuclear Industry Association. These trends emerge just as Labour pledges a major overhaul to ensure low-carbon sources underpin the UK’s future energy security. Unfortunately, analysts say the drop in Britain’s “baseload capacity” from nuclear is amplifying price disparities with Europe, making the UK a net importer as higher domestic rates attract continental supply.

Electricity prices illustrate the growing gulf. In the year to 19 October, prices averaged €98 – approximately £85 – per megawatt hour in the UK, compared to just €69 in France. This cost difference has heightened calls from campaigners to reduce regulatory and planning delays that stymie new investment in nuclear, wind, and solar infrastructure.

The UK’s available generating capacity slipped 3 per cent last year to 71.7 gigawatts after the closure of its last coal-fired power station. Data shows British power production in 2024 was 16 per cent below levels seen a decade earlier. The government attributes falling demand to energy efficiency gains and a shift from heavy industry to higher-value sectors, yet critics argue these figures signal the erosion of Britain’s industrial base.

Analysis commissioned by Nick Timothy, Conservative energy spokesman, suggests that as much as 15 per cent of the nation’s carbon emission reduction in the past twenty years comes directly from factory closures—the unintended consequence of a diminishing manufacturing sector. Labour ministers now face mounting pressure to alleviate Britain’s persistently high energy costs, and a cut to VAT on green levies is under active consideration to help struggling households.

Ed Miliband recently emphasised the imperative of “home-grown, clean energy that we control” to lower bills and insulate Britain from volatile international markets. As the government moves forward with projects like Sizewell C and backs small modular reactors, industry leaders stress that only major reform will position Britain as a true energy superpower with sustainable security and stable pricing for households and businesses alike.