Renewable Energy

Introduction     UK Utilities Act & Renewables Obligation    Local Schemes    UK DTI  White Paper

Introduction & background

Within the UK the government, in 2003, decided that by 2010 10% of electricity would be derived from renewable sources. Research  indicates that 20% by 2020 is feasible.

The government's 2007 aims are stated as:

• To put ourselves on a path to cutting CO2 emissions by some 60% by about 2050, with real progress by 2020;
• To maintain the reliability of energy supplies;
• To promote competitive markets in the UK and beyond;
• To ensure that every home is adequately and affordably heated.

Nuclear is part of the energy strategy along with fossil fuels and renewables.

Renewable Energy sources include:

• Offshore wind
• Onshore wind
• Energy crops for biomass
• Other biomass, such as chicken litter
• Photo Voltaic (PV) solutions, converting solar energy to usable power
• Wave & tidal technologies

Grants are available for communities wishing to get involved and create local renewable energy schemes - see the Big Lottery Fund and the Clean Skies initiatives for instance.

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Utilities Act 2000

The Utilities Act 2000 bought in, for  England and Wales, the Renewables Obligation (RO), replacing the NFFO. In Scotland the equivalent measure is the Renewables (Scotland) Obligation.

The RO requires that 10% of electricity production in 2010 comes from renewable sources.

There is an important need for local involvement from the very start and it is interesting to note that generally local communities become very proud of their "green" plants.

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Local Schemes

Be it wind or otherwise, grants are available from the Big Lottery Fund and the Countryside Agency’s Community Renewables Initiative for funding community environmental energy projects.

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2007 Energy White Paper

Please hit HERE to go to the BERR website page

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DTI 2003 Energy White Paper      (to remind you ...)

The February 2003 Energy white paper spelt out the UK's policy for the future. Below is a very short summary.

SYNOPSIS OF WHITE PAPER

The government is looking to achieve the obligations by encouragement, not law. In the future, electricity will be supplied  less by large power stations and by more diverse smaller schemes. We will also become a net importer of energy, which has some significant effects on the political arena.

At present the UK is responsible for 2% of global CO2 emissions; it is clear that we can only make a small worldwide impact and that there is a need for global effort

The DTI Sees 3 challenges and basic requirements:

1.    Environmental Climate change

Developed economies must reduce their greenhouse gases by 60% by 2050. There is a need for action now - it will be less effective and more costly to leave it.  "Leaving action until the last minute is not an option"

2.    The Decline of UK's own energy supplies

This creates the need to minimise external energy supply factors like price and availability. An EU liberalised energy policy has been agreed for domestic users by 2007 and for industrial users for 2004. This provision of a free market should ensure energy is available for all users both in the UK and the EU.

3.    Updating the UK's energy infrastructure over next 20 years

The creation of a market with incentives to invest to fulfil the UK's requirements is seen as the best way forward. Industry will decide the details according to market forces.

It is seen that this will most likely result in closure of older coal fired stations, although greater investment in clean coal technology is also envisaged.

The question of nuclear power is left open, deferred for a later time. If there is no change, only one station will be left by 2025. The possibility of another station is foreseen in order to comply with CO2 reduction targets. Obviously issues of waste need to be resolved

Goals of UK Energy Policy

4 goals are stated:

1. Put UK on a carbon emissions reduction path of 60% by 2050 with real progress by 2020
2. Maintain the reliability of the UK's energy sources
3. Promote competitive markets
4. Ensure all homes are adequately heated ( eliminate fuel poverty)

The paper comments on each of these headings on how the goals will be met:

The (past) introduction of the Renewables Obligation (RO), leaving the market to decide on fuel mix and exempting renewable sources from the Climate Change Levy CCL

Setting the target of 20% renewable supply by 2020. The RO currently only goes up to 10.4% and this revision is a significant target.

Decoupling economic growth from energy use. If economic growth is to be achieved, it should have minimum impact on energy use

Encouraging investment and developing British expertise at the leading edge. This will place British expertise at the forefront of global introduction of renewable technology.

Involvement in a carbon emissions trading scheme - by 2005  it is expected there will be a  larger EU scheme than voluntary UK one presently operating

Increase energy efficiency of products - for instance fridges & PCs and, in transport, more efficient vehicles/ transport methods & development of carbon free fuels

Increase energy efficiency of buildings - encouragement of domestic measures. More stringent Building Regulations will be introduced in 2005

A more supportive approach to planning and capitals grants

Setting an example in public sector by improving energy efficiency and procurement

This is more political than technical and involves pursual of international relationships and liberalised EU energy policies.

The government will also promote the creation of competitive energy markets, providing growth, and assist businesses to seize opportunities in this market

Much of this will be via grants for energy reduction improvements, like insulation and better heating systems; see the latest fuel poverty strategy. The target is that nobody is suffering from fuel poverty by 2016-2018.

 

Innovation

Innovation is seen as critical and the government will support R&D. A new National Energy Research Centre will be established by the Research Councils.

To Summarise

The government sees that the future will see an entirely different energy structure where emissions trading are a central tenet. The grid, and electricity supply regulations,  will need restructuring to support distributed small scale generators. Private industry will be the major developers.

Local communities will have grater involvement in their schemes and we must all use less energy.

Incentives will be/are provided to both innovate for energy reduction and renewable technology. The target of 20% renewable by 2010 is now set, especially important given the change from energy exporter to net importer.

That concludes this site's brief summary.

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