Government warns UK might struggle to meet renewables targets
Monday 08 February 2010
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| The UK has said that there may be a “shortfall” in meeting its interim targets if energy consumption rises higher than a low or medium rate |
The UK may struggle to meet its EU renewables targets if demand for electricity is too high, according a Government forecast submitted to the European Union.
Britain is mandated to produce 15% of its energy from renewables sources by 2020, compared to a current rate of around 3% and, along with the other member states, has put in a report to the EU executive charting its interim progress.
The figures presented are due to be reviewed before June 30, when members must submit full national action plans stating in detail how they intend to reach their targets.
Most of the other states have stated they are on course to meet or exceed their targets (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story), but the UK has said that there may be a "shortfall" in meeting its interim targets if energy consumption rises higher than a low or medium rate.
According to the forecast, Britain could miss its targets in 2011, 2013 and 2015 - by which time it should be sourcing 6.6% of energy from renewables - over double the current figure.
"Our analysis suggests that the level of renewable energy expected to be deployed over the coming decade will be sufficient to meet the interim targets under assumptions of low overall energy demand," the report said.
"If demand is higher...then we are less confident about achieving the first three interim targets."
However, a spokesman from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said that with large amounts of offshore wind supplemented by other renewables coming online, the Government was confident it would be able to meet the 15% target by 2020.
He said: "Good progress is being made towards meeting our 2020 targets. The UK is a world leader in offshore wind and at the end of 2009 7.5GW of renewable generation was already in operation, there was 3GW under construction and over 10GW of future projects going through the planning process.
"The UK has a target under the 2009 Renewable Energy directive for 15% of its energy to come from renewable sources by 2020 and we are confident of meeting our target."
Targets
If the UK does look like falling short, it has the option of working with other countries or buying any excess renewable electricity they produce.
The UK's report suggests that it has not ruled out this possibility, although it has a number of conditions including that any imports do not undermine financial support mechanisms such as the Renewables Obligation.
"The UK is open to using joint projects to make up any potential shortfall in the final target," it said.
"From the outset we are open to joint projects for renewable electricity where the energy is imported into and consumed in the UK."
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