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The 20% Renewables Policy – An Idea without Logic

Written by Paul Spare
Monday, 10 September 2007
INTRODUCTION In March 2007, EU leaders accepted a proposal to reduce CO2 emissions by utilising more renewable energy. They have backed a mandatory overall cut in the EU’s CO2 emissions of 20 per cent by 2020, below 1990 levels. The 20 per cent could increase to 30 per cent if other key international players follow suit. It is suggested that they have also accepted a binding target of 20 per cent of all energy to be renewable by 2020. (Note, this is stated as energy and not electricity) Both of these objectives will generate immense challenges, but Tony Blair told the summit that the new targets would not be a burden on business, but an incentive to change direction to meet future global demands. Is there any real prospect of meeting either of these objectives? We must presume that the UK government understands energy supply. It has undertaken two major energy reviews with wide consultation in the last four years and will soon publish its second Energy White Paper. One of the recommendations of the 2003 Energy White Paper (Ref.1) was the commitment for renewable forms of electricity generation to generate 20% of UK electricity by the year 2020. Many professional engineers and scientists associated with energy supply have submitted comments to the reviews. For example:- • The Royal Academy of Engineering • Energy Institute • Institution of Chemical Engineers • Institution of Electrical Engineers • The Government Chief Scientist, Professors James Lovelock and Frederick Holliday A revised version of the article is now available to download. Click Here to download the full atricle
Last Updated ( Friday, 10 August 2007 )

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