Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has appointed Chris Stark to head the new Mission Control tasked with turbocharging the UK to clean power by 2030.
Under Chris Stark’s leadership, a top team of energy experts will break down barriers and accelerate progress on clean energy projects.
This new Mission Control will be the first of its kind in government. It will relentlessly focus on accelerating the transition away from volatile fossil fuel markets to clean, homegrown power to boost Britain’s energy independence and cut bills for British people.
Mission Control for clean power
Mission Control will be a one-stop shop, bringing together a top team of industry experts and officials to troubleshoot, negotiate and clear the way for energy projects.
Under Chris Stark’s leadership, it will focus on four strands of activity, including:
- Setting and tracking the overall approach to delivering 2030 across the energy system
- Real-time monitoring of progress on UK infrastructure projects critical to 2030
- Acting as an innovation centre by encouraging discussion among experts
- Serving as a convener for the Mission Control approach across government and with industry
It will work with key energy companies and organisations, including the regulator Ofgem, the National Grid and the Electricity System Operator, to remove obstacles and identify and resolve issues as they arise.
Making the UK a clean energy superpower
This will speed up the connection of new power infrastructure to the grid and provide cleaner, cheaper power to people’s homes and businesses.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The new Mission Control Centre, benefitting from Chris Stark’s leadership expertise and experience and bringing together the brightest and best in the national interest, will have a laser-like focus on delivering our mission of clean power by 2030.
“Making Britain a clean energy superpower will not only keep bills down, it will also create hundreds of thousands of good jobs, while protecting national security by keeping dictators out of our energy markets.”
To achieve clean power by 2030 – and with it, boost energy independence and lower bills – the Energy Secretary has also asked the Electricity System Operator to provide advice on the pathway towards the 2030 ambition, with expert analysis of the location and type of new investment and infrastructure needed to deliver it.
Chris Stark: A key figure on the journey to net zero
As former chief executive of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), and former Director of Energy and Climate Change in the Scottish Government, Chris Stark will bring extensive expertise working with the energy sector to remove barriers and achieve the clean power mission on the country’s path to net zero.
Under his leadership, the CCC recommended a UK net zero target for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 – a target that is now in law.
Commenting on his new role, he said: “It’s a privilege to head up this work alongside the country’s top energy experts who will make this mission a reality.
“Tackling the climate crisis and accelerating the transition to clean power is the country’s biggest challenge and its greatest opportunity.
“By taking action now, we can put the UK at the forefront of the global race to net zero, driving down our carbon emissions while cutting household bills.”
