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UK Renewable Energy
Strategy Consultation: Decarbonising the energy mix
In January we reported on the EU climate change and renewable energy
package which was designed to progress EU policy in relation to
emissions reductions measures and provide further security and diversity
for the EU's energy supplies. The UK Government has now published its
280 page consultation on the measures that it considers would be
necessary to comply with the ambitious renewable energy component of the
EU package.
In March 2007 EU
member states agreed to an EU wide target of 20% of energy to come from
renewable sources by 2020. It is proposed that the UK's contribution to
the overall target would require it to increase its share of renewables
to 15% by 2020 (up from 1.5% in 2006). This latest consultation
therefore revisits and revamps some existing policies in order to
illustrate the measures that will be required to achieve the required
contribution that renewable energy - in its widest sense - can make to
the UK's energy mix. As far as power generation is concerned, the
consultation envisages a largely decarbonised electricity mix by 2050.
The key measures
that the Government has proposed to help deliver the UK share of the EU
target are:
-
extending the Renewables
Obligation to encourage up to 30-35% of electricity to come from
renewable sources by 2020, a seven fold increase;
-
introducing a new
financial incentive mechanism to encourage a large increase in
renewable heat deployment, such as the burning of wood or other
biomass or the use of solar heating;
-
the possibility of
introducing a feed-in tariff for micro generation, guaranteeing
payment of a fixed sum per unit of electricity generated;
-
exploiting the full
potential of energy from waste, by discouraging the land filling of
biomass as far as is practicable; and
-
removing grid access as a
barrier to renewable electricity deployment by sidestepping existing
procedures and system requirements that are seen to be delaying
projects.
Please
click on the links below for further information:
The
consultation paper can be found
here.
The
deadline for responses to the consultation is 26 September 2008.
Key Dates
forming part of the Renewable Energy Strategy
Summer 2008
|
Energy Bill and Climate Change Bill expected to be enacted |
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Call for evidence for smart or advanced metering for small
and medium business customers |
Autumn 2008
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Publication of detailed regulations for the Carbon Reduction
Commitment |
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Heat Strategy to be developed |
| |
Consultation on enhanced energy efficiency policies |
| November 2008 |
Energy Demand Research Project second report |
| Late 2008 |
Supplier Obligation consultation |
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EU Renewable Energy Directive to come into force |
April 2009
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Revised Renewables Obligation due to come into force,
including banding |
Spring 2009
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Strategic Environment Assessment expected to conclude for
additional 25GW of offshore wind |
| Early 2009 |
Roll out of advanced metering for larger business sites |
| Spring 2009 |
Publication of the final Renewable Energy Strategy |
| October 2009 |
CRC regulations expected to come into force |
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The content of this article does not constitute legal advice and
should not be relied on as such. Specific advice should be sought about
your specific circumstances.
Herbert Smith LLP, Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe are three independent firms
which have a formal alliance.
© Herbert Smith LLP 2008
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