Former Military Leaders Urge Shift from North Sea Drilling to Renewables for UK Energy Security
Retired military leaders have issued a stark warning that increased drilling in the North Sea will not enhance the UK's energy security. Instead, they advocate for a rapid transition to a diversified mix of wind, solar, tidal, and nuclear energy, coupled with energy efficiency measures and a major renewal of the electricity grid.
Criticism of Conservative Drilling Campaign
This call comes as Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch launched a "get Britain drilling in the Sea" campaign, echoing demands from right-wing politicians and fossil fuel corporations to reverse Labour's ban on new licences. However, experts argue that such moves are misguided and ineffective.
Retired Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, a professor of climate and resource security at University College London, emphasized that extracting remaining oil and gas from the North Sea is "not the answer" to the UK's challenges. He stated, "It will not bring down the price for consumers, nor will it deliver long-term energy security. The international markets will determine the price and destination; that is not energy independence."
Global Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
A new analysis highlights that no fossil fuel importer is safe from chokepoints in the global supply chain. Maria Pastukhova, a senior policy adviser at the E3G thinktank, explained, "Energy systems are a backbone of national security, but for many importers, that backbone depends on infrastructure and routes far beyond their control. Reliance on distant supply chains and chokepoints means disruption risk is built in."
The E3G report warns of "structural chokepoints" in oil and gas supply, including physical blockages and "paper chokepoints" like insurance withdrawals. It concludes that reducing reliance on fossil fuels through electrification, efficiency, and domestic clean energy is the most durable way to mitigate these risks.
Ineffectiveness of New Licences
Research by the energy transition campaign group Uplift and consultancy Voar reveals that hundreds of new North Sea licences granted by the Conservatives between 2010 and 2024 have produced just 36 days of gas. Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift, criticized calls to "max out" the North Sea as "vapid, political game-playing at the expense of ordinary people."
Experts note that the North Sea is a "mature basin," with output declining by 75% since its peak. Issuing new licences would not reduce UK bills or significantly impact gas imports in the short or long term.
Advocacy for Renewable Sovereignty
Retired Lieutenant General Richard Nugee pointed to Spain as an example, where renewables now set electricity prices most of the time, reducing vulnerability to global disruptions. He said, "Going for renewables gives greater independence, greater sovereignty, less vulnerability to attack and more opportunity."
Khem Rogaly, co-director at the Transition Security Project, added that reliance on volatile fossil fuels makes British families vulnerable to shocks, while green energy through public ownership can protect against energy shocks and foster an independent foreign policy.
Call for Decentralised Energy Systems
James Meadway, director at the economic policy thinktank Verdant, highlighted vulnerabilities in large, centralised systems to attacks and extreme weather events. He advocated for more domestic solar generation, heat pumps, and better insulation as part of a smaller-scale, decentralised system to enhance resilience.
In summary, former military leaders and experts unanimously argue that the UK's future energy security lies not in further North Sea drilling, but in a swift and comprehensive shift to renewable sources and improved infrastructure.
