Google News Alerts from Business in Berkshire - Renewable Energy Targets May Be Out of Reach

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Renewable Energy Targets May Be Out of Reach

The EU’s target for Britain to be producing 20% of its energy from renewable sources by the year 2020 has been slated as over-ambitious by top civil servants. The renewables target is thought to be almost impossible to achieve given current rates of growth within the market.

Tony Blair once claimed the UK would lead the world on climate change, but according to a recent report published in The Guardian, Britain has little hope of meeting the challenging EU targets. If the UK pursues current policies on energy only 5% will be coming from renewable sources by 2020 – a long way behind the EU’s 20% figure. Currently, the UK only produces 2% of its overall energy from renewable energy.

Sadly, it’s not the first time the UK has lagged behind other EU countries in the race to be green. For example, figures from 2005 show that Latvia produced an amazing 48.4% of its energy from sustainable sources. Austria did better still, achieving 57.9% that same year – putting the UK’s 4.3% to complete shame.

There are two primary mechanisams behind the government’s efforts to promote sustainable energy: the low carbon buildings programme (LCBP) and the renewable obligations scheme (RO). Both have attracted their share of criticism and been accused of failing to meet their aims. Other European countries – notably Germany – operate a feed-in tariff system which, despite adding a minimal amount (about £15 a year) to a typical electric bill, seems to work. Indeed almost 50 other countries now operate a similar system successfully.

www.businessinberkshire.co.uk

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