UK predicted to miss renewable energy targets

• 14 years ago (2010-05-25)
• David Flin

Europe 1088 Nuclear 659

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According to a report published by the consultancy Cambridge Econometrics, the UK will miss the European Union target set for 2020 by almost 10 per cent. It predicts that the UK will only be able to produce 6 per cent of its energy through renewable sources by 2020. However, the legally binding EU target for the UK for 2020 stands at 15 per cent, as part of the 20 per cent target for the EU as a whole.

In addition, it says that the UK will not meet its own renewable electricity targets for 2010 and 2020, which were set at 10 per cent and 30 per cent respectively by the previous Government. It predicts that the UK will achieve 7 per cent electricity from renewables by 2010 and 16.5 per cent by 2020.

The new coalition Government announced in its manifesto that it would seek to increase the current renewable energy targets, after consulting with the Climate Change Committee.

Professor Paul Ekins, consultant with Cambridge Econometrics, said: “The outgoing Government is to be applauded for setting statutory carbon targets and budgets, but the new administration will need to appreciate the difference between setting targets and having form policies in place that help to achieve them. The challenge is now to ensure that the 2020 targets are met by policies that cause emissions to fall substantially in a context of economic growth.”

According to the consultancy, the UK will fail to meet its renewable electricity targets because fossil fuel generation will remain important in meeting the UK’s electricity needs over the next 10 years. Additionally, new gas-fired power stations rather than renewables will help replace the power that has been lost through the decommissioning of most of the UK’s nuclear and coal-fired power stations.