‘Hard Brexit’ threatens UK decarbonisation and energy security, new report finds

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

A hard Brexit would run the risk of endangering the UK's progress towards a more decarbonised and secure power market, a think tank in the country has warned. 

This morning IPPR North reported its findings from ‘The Impact of Brexit on Energy in the North of England’ study, which concluded that a full withdrawal from Euratom, energy trade being left in the lurch with no formal agreement, and the UK’s withdrawal from participation in European energy research programmes such as Horizon 2020 would pose a significant threat to the UK's green economy.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The report also claimed to uncover new information, including the revelation that the North of England receives 45% of the UK’s share of EU-originated renewable energy research funding, meaning the region would be unduly hit if it was to be withdrawn.

IPPR North concluded that in the absence of a “radical and significant overhaul of government intervention” required to replace roles which the current EU system maintains, the risks associated with a hard Brexit threaten to be unsafe for the industry, and could also derail emission reduction obligations and energy security.

“On energy alone, the government's industrial strategy will need to go from being a mere summary of current policy interventions undertaken by the government in the economy, to one of the most detailed and interventionist plans for a modern economy in the world, if it is to replace Euratom and the decades’ worth of expertise and programmes developed through pan-European co-operation,” Ed Cox, director at IPPR North, said.

“As the government has repeatedly said, leaving the EU does not mean leaving Europe, and if [it] looks as though Brexiteers can’t deliver on their promises, we must continue to have the closest possible relationship with our nearest neighbours on energy,” he added.

25 November 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Large Scale Solar Central and Eastern Europe continues to be the place to leverage a network that has been made over more than 10 years, to build critical partnerships to develop solar projects throughout the region.

Read Next

July 1, 2025
The UK government has released this week (30 June) its Solar Roadmap, which sets out practical measures to meet the country’s solar PV targets.
June 27, 2025
The UK government has decided it will not sign a Contract for Difference (CfD) with Xlinks for the 11.5GW Morroco-UK interconnector project.
June 27, 2025
PV Tech spoke to Monika Paplaczyk about recent changes in the UK energy mix and opportunities for investors in the solar sector.
Premium
June 27, 2025
PV Talk: '2024 was a transformational year in terms of energy policy,' says Monika Paplaczyk ahead of this year's Clean Power 2030 Summits.
June 26, 2025
Solar irradiation in Western Europe has increased by 50% above-average during Spring, according to an analysis by weather data and software provider Solargis.
June 23, 2025
The volume of power purchase agreements signed in May has registered a low of 280MW, according to Swiss consultancy Pexapark.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA