Is it time to summon up cross-party will power to prevent a third UK oil and gas crisis?

RedCAT CEO Prof. Miranda Barker OBE DL sets out the all-party case for making the UK clean-energy self-sufficient – and multiple of-the-moment benefits of doing so. The world has a long history of being a hostage to hydrocarbons – the 1970s, first Gulf War, Iraq, Russian invasion of Ukraine, and now the Strait of Hormuz crisis. She looks at the new challenges, opportunities, and developments facing the UK’s fast-emerging clean-tech industry – and valuable lessons RedCAT can share in successfully commercialising post-prototype low carbon innovations.

News – stepping aside for a moment (see below)

♦ Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary of State Ed Miliband says the “era of fossil fuel security is over“ and wants an accelerated shift to clean energy to ensure national security and lower bills.

♦  DESNZ has released an open letter on connection reforms to minimise consumer costs and support clean power and growth missions – Read more… ♦ Average UK incomes will fall by more than 15% because of weak climate action by governments, a new report warns – Read more… ♦ Electricity bills of up to 25% will help more than 10,000 large businesses but more needs to be done for struggling SMEs – Read more…

We have the innovative technology – but we must take back control urgently

– The all-party case for a clean-energy self-sufficient Britain

Today, the UK and many other nations are being held over a metaphorical ‘oil barrel’ once again – and potentially for a long time to come.

“Enough is enough. We can and should break this negative cycle,” explains RedCAT co-founder and CEO Prof Miranda Barker OBE DL. “Fortunately, we have strong options to help us do so, she adds

Nearly there – if the spirit is willing

“Taking back control is absolutely vital now because we can’t afford to be held a hostage to fortune yet again this time by the latest overseas folly in the Middle East,” she continues.

“The positive news is that we are not so far away from being truly energy self-sufficient. The caveat is that we must be ready and willing to make the effort nationally, regionally, and locally.

“So let’s get on, set an irreversible target, chisel a firm date into our diaries, and decide once and for all which energy sources are acceptable and which are not – and commit to transition. End of!

Continuity between this parliament and the next … and the next!

“However, even if we start today which we should, it will take at least two parliaments to enact and probably more,” she warns. And that raises the question of political continuity.

“But the age of dithering and flip-flopping between administrations, parties, politics and policies must stop once and for all on this issue of mass distraction which is stressing everybody.

“And the only way for that to happen is through an agreement between all parties of significant size – from the Greens to Reform. We can’t afford for plans to be ripped up each times governments change every four and a half years.

And the way forward is … ?

“I believe the Government must set up a cross-party UK energy self-sufficiency commission. We can’t live any longer with purely short-term politics. We have to have long-term goals. Otherwise, a self-sufficiency project will go the same way as HS2!

A precedent was the ambition of the National Infrastructure Commission executive agency set by Ed Balls to run past single Parliaments between 2015 and 2025 where it was intended to oversee and support long-term infrastructure investments for the UK to ensure they were not usurped by future governments.

The UK can move swiftly because we have many of the vital ingredients

– Knowledge … plus the will-to-win!– Knowledge … plus the will-to-win!– Knowledge … plus the will-to-win!

Having someone over a barrel is said to refer to the practice of laying a drowned person across an empty barrel and rolling them backwards and forwards to force water from their lungs.

Today, it is a euphemism for total control over someone else’s actions so they comply with unpalatial demands because they have no other options.

But in the case of chaotic oil and gas markets we do have other options, explains RedCAT co-founder and CEO Prof Miranda Barker OBE DL. And the potential returns are huge in more ways than one.

Breaking the cycle

Two essential ingredients are needed to make the UK clean energy self-sufficient, she points out.

“The first – attitude, commitment – and dare I say it, courage to add a budget – is a work in progress where we are pushing hard to gain coordinated support from the leaders of all political parties.

“Fortunately, we do have the second ingredient – the highly-skilled expertise needed to develop alternative green technologies, and most importantly commercialise cutting-edge clean-tech innovations for UK domestic and global export markets.

“This ties in well with the Government’s Clean Flexibility Roadmap which identifies an urgent need for the UK to generate more clean energy, and develop flexible systems like a larger national battery storage capacity, plus other ‘demand-side responses’.

Clean-tech + energy security hand-in-hand

“Organisations like RedCAT can help by providing valuable research and operational information, especially for manufacturers, plus examples of clean-tech innovation for an expanding UK low-carbon net-zero economy.

“RedCAT is also ideally qualified and positioned to carry out feasibility studies to prove that, say, £20 million early funding can be scaled, rolled out nationally, and transformed up multiple-times into real market outcomes and skilled employment opportunities,” says Miranda.

“We have case studies – listed later – to substantiate this. It is, therefore, with pride that I can say we expect to have a very active part in the UK promotional pathway to success.”

Low carbon at three important levels

“Low carbon energy technology works in several strategic ways,” she adds.

“On a first mass level, solar, wind, hydropower and modern nuclear are now well-established functioning sectors that set a precedent for other crucial breakthrough technologies.

“They don’t suit everybody. But we can’t all be NIMBY all the time – or BANANA (build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything). Unfortunately, airports, cities, railways, sewage works, and six-lane motorways are now an established fact of modern life and living standards.

“That said, as technologies evolve the mix and balances change.

“With careful regard to environmental impacts – that often require statutory Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) – plus genuine concern for community opinions, there are further options down the line for self-sufficient power – some very large, others small and extremely local.

On the large side, a current active example is geothermal – an invisible UK energy source – potentially offering a template for turning an underdeveloped concept into a market-ready industry.

“Clean-tech could and needs to be developed on a similar if not greater scale.

“There are many other small, exotic, and potentially huge futuristic renewables listed below.

“On a second nuanced level, there are also many ways in which we can cleverly access into other untapped low carbon resources, and improve their use and application.

Examples include innovative energy storage solutions, better refrigeration technologies, batteries that work well at high temperatures in warmer climates, and advanced manufacturing techniques.

This is very much RedCAT territory. Studies of our clean-tech innovation projects are listed later.

“The final level is truly low carbon where we help hard-working companies cut their need for costly energy – and so their carbon footprints. This is often based on onsite audits, commonsense and expert inputs, introducing new technologies, and transitioning to renewable energy.”

“If you haven’t yet met our allies at Chamber Low Carbon you certainly need to” Miranda suggests.

“Their goal is to improve the efficiency and productivity of Lancashire businesses so they become more competitive, shrink their carbon footprints, and support the net zero transition.

“That’s a universal message which underpins all RedCAT’s work not only at home but also overseas where it can make a much-needed impact in the Global South.

The North West working for the UK and world

– RedCAT innovation projects– RedCAT innovation projects

To date, key RedCAT pathfinding projects include: –

– Mini-power plants – River Power Pod

– Wasted green fuels – CAGE

– Low-cost batteries – LiNa

– Cold energy storage – Organic Heat Exchangers

– Transcritical CO2 refrigeration – isentra

– Net Zero manufacturing – E+R

– Defence security – AMS

– Green buildings – Sustainable Smart Technologies

– Renewable renewable heating technology – Global Energy Systems

– Low carbon ductwork – EcoDuct

– Low carbon drainage and insfrastructure – Aquaspira

– EV Charging – AMP EV

It will also severely impact government budgets

Average UK incomes could fall by more than 15% in 2050 because of weak climate action by governments, a new report warns.

Remediating climate-related impacts could take up to 25% of national governments’ welfare budgets, says the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

Spending will respond to both extreme weather events and productivity losses caused by deteriorating public health and fewer good employment opportunities.

The 2026 report was presented to financial policymakers at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meeting in New York.

A Government boost for UK competitiveness

– Good and not so good news for small companies

The Government says electricity bills are to be cut by up to 25% for more than 10,000 businesses through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) to strengthen UK economic security.

This will help large companies but more needs to be done for thousands of struggling small businesses.

“The announcement only affects a very, very small percentage of firms and comes into force far too late to save us from energy-related redundancies,” says Miranda. “Much more needs to be done.”

BICS will be expanded by 40% with one-off additional payment in 2027 for an extra 3,000 businesses, covering support firms would have received from April 2026. The Chancellor says this is the next phase of Government plan to boost Britain’s competitiveness.

BICS was announced in 2025’s Modern Industrial Strategy. Automotive and aerospace, steel, and pharmaceuticals are among the sectors where eligible businesses could benefit.

Bringing forward £200 billion investment in network and project build

– Supporting net-zero and future UK economic performance        

DESNZ has released an open letter on progress on connections reform, ongoing risks to delivery, and actions to mitigate these risks. It notes the high volume of battery storage projects.

“Improvements have to happen. Otherwise, we will hold back not only our transition to net-zero but also the whole of the UK’s economic performance,” Miranda notes.

The letter ‘reiterates the shared objective of ensuring the reforms minimise consumer costs and support the timely issuance of high‑quality connection offers in support of the government’s clean power and growth missions’.

It also notes options to ‘safeguard these objectives’ if further risks are identified, NESO’s annual consultation on connections methodologies, and invites views on whether extra steps are needed to address the battery surplus.