Self-styled “Clean Energy Champion” SSE has warned that it may not meet its own 2030 renewable energy targets, cutting its five-year spending to £17.5bn (a reduction of £3bn).

Blaming planning and policy delays by the UK and Scottish governments, Alistair Phillips-Davies, chief executive, said: “SSE continues to prove the benefits of a portfolio that is built to withstand risk and uncertainty and a strategy that is focused on creating sustainable value.”

Although Phillips-Davies emphasised the company’s commitment to renewables, and infrastructure (pointing out that SSE spent £8m a day on this) and the need to wean the UK off gas. SSE invested £2.9bn in energy infrastructure over the last year and see its five-year Net Zero Acceleration Programme as a main driver resting on the ‘three pillars’ of renewables, networks and flexibility.

None-the-less the budget cut follows other recent brakes upon renewables, including the halting of Hornsea 4 and a pivot back to fossil fuels by BP.

Phillips-Davies will step down this year.

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