Industry professionals believe Brexit would be bad for the UK’s energy system, a survey by the Energy Institute has found.
On eight out of nine issues – from supporting renewable energy to improving energy efficiency – the majority of respondents said leaving the EU but remaining in the single energy market would have a “negative” or “very negative” effect on Britain’s energy system.
Only on supporting oil and gas production did the professionals surveyed think the UK would be better off leaving the EU.
Supporting innovation and research was the issue for which the most respondents thought Brexit would be detrimental. 120 said leaving the EU would have a negative or very negative impact in this area, compared to 35 who thought it would have a positive or very positive impact. Addressing climate change and sustainability came second (116 to 27), followed by securing energy supplies (115 to 30).
Energy Institute president professor Jim Skea said: “An overwhelming majority of contributors to the Barometer foresee negative effects on the UK energy system in the event that the UK were to leave the EU. In terms of securing energy supplies, renewable energy development, climate change and sustainability, and air quality, about four times as many respondents anticipate negative effects.”
The Energy Institute also asked about the potential risks and opportunities in three different scenarios: Britain remaining in the EU; Britain leaving but remaining in the single energy market; and Britain exiting both.
Across all three scenarios energy security was highlighted as a major concern, with it topping the cited risks for both of the leave scenarios. Conversely it was also highlighted as an opportunity in all three. Britain leaving both the EU and the single energy market was the situation most frequently cited as being a risk to energy security.
This concern is supported by the perception from respondents that leaving the EU would have a negative impact on support for new nuclear and renewable power generation; the fourth most cited negative effect.
The report follows comments from energy minister Andrea Leadsom this week that warned the UK’s energy security will be “compromised” by the European Union if Britain votes to remain.
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