Positive signs within the Renewable Energy Roadmap Update

In July 2011, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (the "DECC") published the government's UK Renewable Energy Roadmap, which set out proposals to increase the use of renewable energy in order to meet the UK's 15% renewable energy target under the Renewable Energy Directive by 2020.

On 27 December 2012 the DECC published an update to the Renewable Energy Roadmap which indicated that significant progress has been made to meet the 2020 target.

The update noted that over 10% of all electricity generated comes from renewable energy. Equally, in relation to individual renewable energy sources there is:

1.) A 27% increase in overall renewable electricity generated and a 40% increase in renewable electricity capacity;

2.) A 60% increase in offshore wind capacity and a 24% increase in onshore wind capacity; and

3.) A 5.5 times increase in solar PV capacity

The update also looks forward to the implementation of the Energy Bill which should deliver financial incentives for low-carbon electricity development as well as a greater uptake in the Renewable Heat Incentive and further large scale wind, bioenergy and solar PV projects which should increase the use of renewable energy.

The DECC accordingly conclude that the UK is on track to meet the first interim target of renewable energy accounting for over 4% of energy consumption and the update further predicts that the UK can deliver around 30% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2020.

This article is for general guidance only. It provides useful information in a concise form. Action should not be taken without obtaining specific legal advice.