Keir Starmer has repeatedly thrown his support to go “all out” for a low-carbon future and accelerate the push to net zero, however, the Prime Minister has been warned this could severely backfire on Britain. In a strong declaration of support for the net zero agenda, Starmer made it crystal clear last month that he views renewable energy as core to the UK’s future prosperity and national security.

By agreeing to be looped into the continent's carbon market Starmer is potentially opening the UK to a crisis, similar to Spain’s massive power outrage in April which saw the country plunged into darkness. A whopping 55 million people were affected and it lasted more than half a day, some experts have blamed renewables and net zero emissions targets as the catalyst. Renewables were providing most of Spain's electricity when the outage occurred – as they often do.

Spain and Portugal lead the EU in renewables and were sourcing about 80% of their electricity from solar and wind when the blackout hit.

The events have reignited the cultural and political battle over the future of nuclear energy.

Almaraz nuclear plant in a small town in Extremadura in the west of the country had simulations in place to deal with the event of Spain losing power and “achieved the perfect stop”, says Borja Hermoso a worker at the plant.

The nuclear plant will soon close its doors permanently forcing thousands out of jobs as Spain presses forward with its net-zero targets.

María Guardiola Martin, president of the region and a politician in the conservative Spanish People’s Party (PP), says the blackout should serve as a warning that shutting down nuclear plants and relying on renewables is “a strategic and social error not only for Extremadura, but for all of Spain”.

Izaskun García, an engineer at Almaraz, told The Telegraph that the blackout “shows the system is not ready to run only with renewables,” says García.

He added: “The transition has been too rapid and the planning insufficient. We need another 10-15 years to work out how to use only renewables and in the meantime, we cannot do without nuclear energy.”

With Spain's bold renewable policies backfiring on them could Starmer be opening the UK to a similar event?

Last year the Labour government announced several new bills that are relevant to net zero including the Great British Energy Bill to set up a publicly owned clean power company to drive investment in renewable energy, the Crown Estate Bill to remove restrictions and allow for easier investment in public infrastructure, and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill to support the production of green aircraft fuel.