The UK Renewable Energy Strategy Might Surprise You...

Energy prices are soaring, security of oil, gas and electricity is far from certain, and climate change hasn't gone away!  A substantial growth in renewable energy technologies can help to mitigate all these threats to our way of life.

So, at Watt-Knots, we are are surprised (and puzzled) over the lack of coverage the Government's UK Renewable Energy Strategy has received in the media and the absence of ministerial speeches or announcements since publication in June.   It is ambitious and far reaching and will touch almost every individual, business and institution in the country.

You can download all the documents concerning the UK Renewable Energy Strategy here - there is a lot to read - and have your say in the consultation.

However, just some of the key points it contains are:

• A huge increase in wind energy to meet the electricity target, including a trebling of the numbers of large scale wind turbines, both on and off shore.
• Heat (in all is forms) accounts for about 49% of the UK's energy demand and almost half of this is from the industrial, commercial and public sectors.  The government anticipates significant growth in biomass waste and renewable CHP (combined heat and power) technologies, as well as solar water heating, to increase the contribution from renewables to around 14% by 2020 from less than 1% today.
• The Government accepts the EU directive for 2020 that 10% of energy consumption by inland transport will come from renewables vs around 1% today.  This will require a major effort behind the development of assured sustainable biofuels, as well as the continued growth (from a very small base) of hybrid and electric vehicles.
• In order to deliver this strategy the Government is looking to extend existing, and introducing new financial incentives and other mechanisms to foster the rapid growth in renewables it wants to achieve.  This includes the removal or lowering of many existing barriers to renewables growth, particularly in the planning system and grid connections.
• The strategy assumes a price of oil in 2020 of $70 a barrel and the cost to the UK of implementing the strategy at £5-6 billion a year in 2020.  If the price of oil were to be $150 (it has been much higher and is today still above $100) this cost would fall to well under £4 billion.

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If you would like to get ahead of the game on renewables, please contact us to arrange a no charge, no obligation meeting for an initial assessment of the opportunities.  Just email us at solutions@watt-knots.co.uk with your name and 'phone number and we'll be in touch.