Renewable energy is key to our low-carbon energy future. We need to radically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as diversify our energy sources. As part of this move to a low-carbon economy, we need a dramatic change in renewable energy use in electricity, heat and transport.
The UK has signed up to the
EU Renewable Energy Directive, which includes a UK target of 15 percent of energy from renewables by 2020. This target is equivalent to a seven-fold increase in UK renewable energy consumption from 2008 levels: the most challenging of any EU Member State. While such an increase is ambitious, and will be challenging, the Department is fully committed to meeting the target.
Following the major
consultation on the Renewable Energy Strategy in 2008, we have now published our Renewable Energy Strategy and Executive Summary. This strategy sets out how we all have a role to play in promoting renewable energy, from individuals to communities to businesses.
Meeting the renewable energy targets is not just about preventing climate change and securing future energy supplies. Achieving the targets could provide £100 billion worth of investment opportunities and up to half a million jobs in the renewable energy sector by 2020.
Alongside the Renewable Energy Strategy document, the Department have also published a suite of impact assessments and supporting analytical consultancy reports. The main consenting bodies for renewable energy and environmental statutory consultees have also published a joint statement setting out their collective commitment to achieve greater renewable energy deployment.
You are invited to provide your comments on the NERA/AEA 2009: UK supply curve for renewable heat page
'Delivering community benefits from wind energy development: A Toolkit', written for the Renewables Advisory Board (RAB) was originally published in April 2007. This has been revised and relaunched alongside the RES and provides information and case studies for delivering community benefits (as stated in Chapter 6 - 6.9)
As foreshadowed in the Renewable Energy Strategy, DECC has published 'Biomethane into the gas network: a guide for producers' on injection of biomethane into the gas grid. It is available on the Non-conventional sources of gas web page.
