Developing renewable energy saves each person in the UK £84 a year compared with gas and coal, according to DECC’s chief scientific adviser. Trade body RenewableUK yesterday welcomed his comments as a “timely reminder” that low carbon sources of energy are “financially prudent”.

This comes as government yesterday revealed companies have invested £2.5 billion in renewable energy projects since April.

Professor David MacKay said that relying on imports of fossil fuels such as gas and coal would cost the equivalent of £4,682 per person a year while investing sources of energy such as wind would bring the cost down to the equivalent of £4,598.

Jennifer Webber at RenewableUK said: “This is a timely reminder from the Government’s chief scientific adviser that doing nothing is not an option – we simply cannot afford to go on relying on high-carbon sources of energy. If we want to act in a manner which is financially prudent, and save money in the long term, we need to invest in renewables such as wind, wave and tidal energy”.