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NewsLeaked draft government energy strategy ‘could endanger UK security of supply and even raise our carbon emissions.’Tuesday 23 October 2007 The leaked draft government energy strategy revealed in today’s Guardian reveals flawed thinking which would risk not only the UK’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions but also the security of its domestic electricity supply. Responding to the leaked report, Maria McCaffery, BWEA CEO said today: “If adopted by government, this strategy could endanger UK security of supply and even raise our carbon emissions. Civil servants are wrong to advise ministers that the 20% renewable energy targets are unreachable; the renewables industry is ready to deliver 35% of the UK’s electricity supplies by 2020, given the right political framework. “Without renewable energy, there will be no alternative to increasing UK dependency on carbon-generating gas imports from the former Soviet republics once existing UK nuclear and conventional power stations retire over the next few years. New nuclear generation will simply take too long to build to bridge the ‘energy gap.’ “The debate should be about how to overcome the remaining hurdles to delivery rather than documenting them as a reason for failure. As the effects of climate change continue to spiral and as the UK’s energy supplies become more insecure, 2007 is certainly not the time for the national Government to undermine investor confidence in the renewable energy sector. Maria McCaffery, concluded: “At this stage, the renewables industry is ready to judge Government on their actions rather than speculation but there is no doubt that these statements coming from inside government are threatening to destabilise the pioneering EU targets for 2020 and are potentially damaging to investor confidence in the UK renewables industry”. If the government adopts the approach of the leaked report, it will undermine confidence from the renewables industry which is ready to invest over £45billion in the UK to deliver 35% of our electricity from proven renewable energy sources by 2020(1). The industry is ready and able to deliver on a massive scale with a range of proven and mature technologies at its disposal(2). For interviews and enquiries, please contact Chris Tomlinson, Director of Programme Strategy: 07815 141 008 / c.tomlinson@renewable-uk.com. Notes to Editors BWEA is the trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries. Formed in 1978, and with over 350 corporate members, BWEA is the leading renewable energy trade association in the UK. Wind has been the world's fastest growing renewable energy source for the last seven years, and this trend is expected to continue with falling costs of wind energy and the urgent international need to tackle CO2 emissions to prevent climate change. (1) £45billion of investment into the UK is ready to be made to deliver 20GW of offshore wind (17-18% of current UK supply) and 13.5GW of onshore wind (10% of current UK supply). If the Government is successful in delivering policy initiatives to encourage energy efficiency of new and existing buildings while encouraging energy conservation, these contributions will be greater as a proportion of future UK electricity supply. (2) BWEA is calling on the British Government to take action to help industry deliver over 25% of the UK’s electricity supplies from wind power by 2020. Specifically we are calling for:
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