UK Budget 2023: Fuel Duties, EV Incentives, and Green Energy Investments
Key Ideas
- The UK's first female chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced a freeze on fuel duty for a full year, providing a tax cut worth approximately £3 billion.
- There will be an increase in the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) to 38% by March 2030, with investments in green hydrogen projects and carbon capture technologies.
- The Budget includes incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) in company car tax, increased differential on vehicle tax rates, and significant investments in the automotive sector for EV growth.
- Funding allocations for EV chargepoints, electric vans, heat decarbonisation, and household energy efficiency demonstrate a strong focus on green energy initiatives in the UK Budget 2023.
Rachel Reeves, the UK's first female chancellor of the exchequer, presented her first Budget, which included several key announcements. One surprise was the decision to freeze fuel duty for a year, providing relief to drivers and saving the average driver around £60 annually. The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) will increase to 38%, with continued support for the decarbonisation of the energy sector. Additionally, there are initiatives to support electric vehicles (EVs), including maintaining incentives and increasing the rate differential on vehicle tax. Investments in the automotive industry, totaling £2 billion over two years, aim to boost growth in the EV sector. The Budget also highlights investments in green energy, such as providing funding for 11 new green hydrogen projects and supporting carbon capture technologies. The Warm Homes Plan will receive £3.4 billion over three years to enhance heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency, with a focus on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and heat pump manufacturing. Overall, the Budget demonstrates a positive outlook towards green energy and sustainable initiatives in the UK.