The UK Government’s energy security strategy is a stark reminder of the complexities of the energy transition. The acceleration towards net zero must be balanced against the vital priorities of keeping the lights on, our hospitals powered and our homes warm.

In a time of unprecedented conflict and soaring energy bills for businesses and consumers, security of supply matters like never before.

The Government has long been committed to a “green industrial revolution”, and rightly so. Investment in renewables means harnessing the UK’s bountiful natural resources to produce cleaner energy and providing a massive economic boost in the process. Get this right, and the UK could be one of the leading energy providers to the whole of Europe.

But renewable technologies will require time, investment and scale to deliver energy at low cost. Many renewable technologies are already reaching this point, with the price of offshore wind having fallen dramatically by around 65% since 2015. Others will take longer.

New offshore turbine technology will power oil and gas installations with low-carbon electricity will help Scotland achieve its net zero ambitions, writes Dan Jackson.

However, the priority of the Government’s strategy is to deliver immediate and urgent relief on energy bills and reduce our reliance on imported energy. In the short term, that means looking again at domestic oil and gas.

We can continue with oil and gas and move closer to net zero all at the same time - Dan Jackson