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Tue, 10 Nov 2026

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 The superpower battle over energy – and what it means for your bills

A tug-of-war between China and the US could have a big impact on energy costs, but who will win?
1. Energy price shocks: The article highlights that household energy bills are set to rise again in January, and that a future price shock like 2022's would push household energy bills up by 59% if Britain stays on a high-carbon path. 2. Renewable energy vs fossil fuels: The Climate Change Committee calculates that focusing on renewables could reduce the impact of a price shock to just 4%. 3. China's dominance in clean tech: China makes the majority of the world's solar panels, batteries, and electric cars, and its lead is growing. This raises concerns about dependence on Chinese technology. 4. National security risk: The UK government cited national security risks as a reason for rejecting Ming Yang's bid to build turbines in Scotland, but did not provide further explanation. 5. Foreign investment: Japan's Sumitomo Electric has opened Britain's first HVDC subsea cable factory at Nigg, creating up to 250 jobs, but this is seen as a one-off and does not address the broader issue of dependence on Chinese technology. The article raises several questions about the UK's energy policy: 1. Is the UK swapping dependence on petrostates for dependence on China? 2. Can the UK rely on foreign investment to drive its transition to renewables? Overall, the article suggests that the UK is facing a complex and challenging situation in terms of its energy policy, with no easy solutions in sight. Key quotes:
* "We are swapping one form of dependence for another" - Li Shuo, Asia Society Policy Institute
* "I want to see turbines made here" - Fahnbulleh, UK Government Key statistics:
* 70% increase in China's exports of solar panels, batteries, and electric cars in March (Ember)
* 90% decrease in the cost of power from new solar farms between 2010 and 2024 (International Renewable Energy Agency)