For over a century ECA has worked for a fair electricity market.
In 2023, against the backdrop of escalating energy prices, fuel poverty and net zero targets, we draw on our history to offer viable energy policy solutions.
We collaborate with others to promote renewable power, energy efficiency and energy storage to deliver lower costs and greater energy security.
The electrotechnical and engineering services sector is worth £21bn. We represent our Members at government and industry bodies to influence energy-related initiatives and policies.
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Clean electricity has the advantage of being a more secure, stable and cheaper energy source than other fuels
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Steve Bratt, ECA CEO
What is the issue?
Electricity prices are around four times higher than gas
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Electricity prices are around four times higher than gas
ECA is working for parity between gas and electricity levies to reflect the falling carbon intensity of electricity.
From 2035 UK sales of petrol and diesel vehicles will end
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Legal emissions targets set for 2035
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Legal emissions targets set for 2035
The UK has a legally binding target to make 78% reduction emissions by 2035 and become a net zero emitter by 2050.
To decarbonise the grid we need long term strategic incentives and consumer education about the benefits low carbon alternatives. Without a strategic plan which considers grid capacity and captures carbon use, measuring progress towards targets is a challenge.
What change is ECA calling for?
Electrification of all UK transport
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Electrification of all UK transport
Electrification of all UK transport, including rail, shipping and electric vehicles.
- To keep pace with the growing number of electric vehicles on our roads ECA is calling on government to deliver an electric vehicle charging strategy and investment in a nation-wide charge point network.
- To address inconsistent installation quality ECA is calling on energy suppliers to facilitate collective load control with Electric Vehicle charging point and other significant loads, onsite generation and storage.
- To address the Electric Vehicle Charging Point postcode lottery ECA is calling on local authorities to plan for and prioritise EVCP installation in their areas.
Measurement of whole life carbon in buildings
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Measurement of whole life carbon in buildings
To reduce carbon emissions from extraction of materials, manufacture, repair, disassembly and disposal, is important to measure ‘embodied carbon’ in buildings. ECA is calling for:
- Mandatary assessment and reporting of whole life carbon on building projects over 1000m2 through Building Regulations by 2027.
- Mandatory labelling of products to define the ‘embodied carbon’ and energy or the embodied constituents.
- A national embodied and whole life carbon database.
An energy storage revolution
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An energy storage revolution
To transform the UK energy landscape and reduce our reliance on imported energy, ECA calls for the introduction of smart energy prosumer systems for small scale energy producers to feed into the national grid including:
- Incentives for electrical energy storage systems, smart LED/electrical heating systems and battery storage.
- Incentives for Prosumers Electrical Installation using onsite generation (such as solar PV or localised wind generation) and electrical energy storage systems (EESS)
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Rebalancing of energy taxation
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Rebalancing of energy taxation
To address inequalities in gas and electricity levies, ECA is calling on government to:
- Review outdated fuel levies on fuel bill and bring parity to gas and electricity levies.
- Reduce levies on electricity to reflect to the falling carbon intensity of electricity.
A National Retrofit Strategy
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A National Retrofit Strategy
To combat energy loss in 28 million homes and make the UK’s aging housing stock energy efficient, ECA is calling on government to:
- Adopt the CLC’s national retrofit strategy
- Establish an effective home insulation scheme.
- Promote air-to-air heat pumps as suitable for retrofit in older buildings.
- Expand the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to cover the installation of low carbon heating devices.
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The electrotechnical industry is poised to deliver the safe, productive and low-carbon buildings and infrastructure that will meet our immediate and future needs and support the drive towards Net Zero
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ECA's Drive To Net Zero Activity
ECA meets Shadow Minister for Roads and Transport
November 2023: ECA meets Shadow Minister for Roads and Transport to discuss EV charging infrastructure.
ECA meets CEO of Climate Change Committee
November 2023: ECA meets CEO of Climate Change Committee about implementation of UK 2035 net zero targets.
ECA Guide to Net Zero
September 2023: ECA’s guide to Net Zero launched at Roadshow. Read more >
ECA pitch ideas for electricity taxation inquiry
DNSNZ picks ECA to pitch ideas for Parliamentary Inquiry into electricity taxation. Read more >
ECA's #ProjectNetZero Roadshow 2023
June 2023: ECA’s Project Net Zero Roadshow opens for registration.
Leading the Charge award finalist
May 2023: ECA is named as a finalist at the 2023 Unlock Net Zero Live Awards. Our Leading The Charge campaign is shortlisted within the Collaboration of the year - energy projects category. Read more >
ECA meets Energy Shadow Minister
April 2023: ECA meets Dr Alan Whitehead, Shadow Minister for Energy to discuss the issues that matter most to our Members. These include the skills crisis facing our industry and the importance of listening to electricians who are central to the delivery of mass electrification. Read more >
Solar panels power planes
March 2023: ECA Member installs solar panels for Light Aircraft Company to save energy costs. Watch here >
Holistic decarbonisation
February 2023: Technology Agnostic Approach to Heat and Buildings report launch in Houses of Parliament. Read more >
ECA welcomes Net Zero department
February 2023: ECA has broadly welcomed the creation of the new Government Department for Energy Security and net Zero. Read more >
ECA scoops award for Net Zero campaign
November 2022: ECA wins CLC’s Construct Zero Partner of the year 2022. Read more >
Skidmore Net Zero Review
November 2022: Renewable energy is the strategic solution to lowering energy costs and increasing efficiency and energy security.
Electricity market review
October 2022: In response to the Review of the Electricity Market, ECA calls on government to encourage flexible, local initiatives which reduce demand on the grid and lower levies on generating green electricity.
Leading the Charge premiere
September 2022: ECA documentary about the apprentices helping transform the energy market to net zero electricity. Screening at The Royal Society for an invited audience of industry, education and policy leaders.
ECA launches Leading the Charge
September 2022: ECA launches Leading the Charge telling the story of a transformative moment, when electrotechnical professionals seize the potential of clean electricity to fulfil the UK’s net zero ambitions.
Open letter on fuel taxation
September 2022: ECA, alongside other key partners, sends an open letter to Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak – calling for the new PM to consider rebalancing taxes on fuel bills.
ECA launches Making the Switch
July 2022: ECA launches Making the Switch – calling for a rebalancing gas and electricity taxes on fuel bills.
ECA submits evidence to inquiry
June 2022: ECA joined 50 organisations from academia, business and charity who gave evidence to the Government’s Fossil Fuel Inquiry. We called for a National Retrofit Strategy and more investment in wind and solar. We also highlighted the need to rebalance unequal tax on gas and electricity to encourage the switch to low carbon electricity.
EV charging an election issue
May 2022: Ahead of the local elections, Luke Osborne urges voters to make public EV charging roll out an election issue. Watch now >
ECA on Energy Security Strategy
April 2022: ECA points out energy efficiency is missing from the new Energy Security Strategy and urges government to focus on retrofitting UK’s aging housing stock
EV Network Strategy published
March 2022: ECA warns market-led approach may jeopardise the quality and safety of EV charge point installations.
VAT removed on renewable products
March 2022: Chancellor removes VAT on renewable products - achieving one of ECA’s policy asks.
Ahead of Spring Statement
March 2022: Open letter to Chancellor with industry and renewable energy providers asking to remove VAT on renewable products.
ESF roundtable on EV charge point safety
February 2022: ECA presents data on patchy local authority approach to EVCP roll out.
Response to SMMT EV infrastructure report
February 2022: There can be no EV charge point network in the UK without an upskilled electrical workforce.
Content with Purpose partnership
January 2022: Media partnership to document the transition to net zero electricity - leading the charge.
BEIS consultations
January 2022: ECA submits responses to phasing out the installation of fossil fuel heating in homes off the gas grid and a market based mechanism for low carbon heat.
Rise in EV sales
January 2022: The Society of Motoring Manufacturers cites ECA data about regional inconsistencies in EV Charging points.
Energy crisis
January 2022: Luke Osbourne appears in YouTube video stating ECA’s position on net zero.
COP26
November 2021: Member firm, EFT and ECA staff attend events in Glasgow.
Freedom of Information request
October 2021: ECA gathers data about local authority plans for roll out of EV charging points.
EVCP postcode lottery
July 2021: ECA raises alarm about the inconsistent approach to EV charging and calls for a national EV strategy.
Consultation responses
April 2021: ECA responds to public consultations on EV Charging Points and Future Buildings Standards.
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