Government wants ambitious targets for renewable power and low carbon energy development
The Government has published the UK Renewable Energy Strategy 2009. This document emphasises the need to radically increase our use of renewable electricity, heat and transport in view of the legally binding target of obtaining 15% of our energy from renewable sources by 2020.
The Energy Strategy proposes:
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Generating more than 30% of our electricity from renewables;
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Generating 12% of our heat from renewables; and
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Generating 10% of transport energy from renewables.
In order to achieve this ambitious scenario, the Energy Strategy sets out a commitment to:
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Put in place mechanisms to provide financial support of around £30 billion for renewable electricity and heat;
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The Office of Renewable Energy Deployment has been created to help drive delivery and remove obstacles to success;
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Increase investment in emerging technologies and find new sources of supply; and
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Creating new opportunities for communities, businesses and individuals to harness renewable energy.
The Energy Strategy emphasises the need for the planning system to deliver renewable energy in the right places at the right time and the need for a more predictable and faster planning system whilst still protecting the environment and taking account of the legitimate concerns of local communities. It notes an intention to ”work with all the English regions to help ensure that they have robust evidence based strategies for delivering their renewable potential in line with our 2020 objective”.
The Government has also pledged financial support to ensure the right skills and knowledge are available within the planning community at local and regional level to deal with renewable energy planning applications. This will include setting up, funding and managing a variety of support including an ‘Expert Support Network’ for planners on renewable energy as well as through existing bodies such as the Planning Advisory Service (PAS).
DCLG is currently updating its planning policy guidance and will publish a new draft combined climate change planning policy statement (PPS) by the end of 2009.
The UK Renewable Energy Strategy 2009 can be viewed on the DCLG website.
