The next government will be responsible for the UK succeeding – or failing – in meeting its 2020 renewable energy targets. It could also be the government that turns the budding renewable energy industry into the main economic engine for creating jobs and growth in the energy sector and reducing the UK’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.
The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has set out a blueprint for the next government, clearly outlining the key ‘manifesto asks’ for all the REA’s key technologies across renewable heating, power and transport fuels. A common theme across all sectors is the need for clear, stable policy. Matched with ambitious government plans, this will create jobs, investment and growth, and help the UK catch up in the global clean energy race (in which it currently lags behind, sitting 26th out of 28 in the EU renewables league table).
In its recent report, REVIEW, the REA found that policies put in place to date towards the 2020 renewable energy targets have generated £30 billion of investment, sustaining over 100,000 jobs. It also forecasted that achieving the 2020 targets would generate a further £64 billion of investment, sustaining a total of 400,000 jobs.
REA chief executive, Dr Nina Skorupska, said:
“From clean power infrastructure to Zero Carbon Homes and from heat networks to sustainable transport, this is the most comprehensive guide a government could wish for if it is seeking to maximise the value of this young, vibrant and innovative industry.
“Looking out to 2020, this manifesto sets out how the government can keep up the progress on renewable electricity, and accelerate the roll-out of renewable heating technologies and transport fuels. Certainty beyond 2020 is also vital to enable industry to invest in innovation, expansion, skills and supply chains.”
MPs have already been presented with copies of the REA Manifesto at a series of breakfast seminars the REA has run. The REA Manifesto builds on the Action for Renewables campaign, which sets six top line key asks for the next government:
- Support the Climate Change Act to keep us on course to meet our carbon commitments and back global efforts to tackle climate change
- Set a new renewables target for 2030 of 30% of UK energy
- Back the Independent Committee on Climate Change’s recommendation to set a binding target for low carbon electricity by 2030
- Fund the Renewable Heat Incentive for new applications after 2016
- Boost the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to reach the ten per cent renewable energy target for transport by 2020
- Reform the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to ensure the market takes account of all sectors’ polluting cost of carbon emissions.
The REA will continue to work with fellow trade associations and other stakeholders to make the case for growing the renewable energy economy in the run-up to the general election.