DECC Secretary of State refutes scrapping of renewable energy target

Ed Davey, the government Secretary for Energy & Climate Change, has refuted an article in a daily newspaper today (12^th March) suggesting that the renewable energy targets are to be scrapped.

He says in his letter: “Contrary to your misleading headline (12 March, ‘UK wants renewable energy target scrapped’), the UK is 100% committed to the 2020 EU renewable energy target and we’ve set out in our renewable energy roadmap the programme of action in place to drive delivery up and costs down.

“Furthermore, your article is wholly wrong to claim “the UK is fighting to have nuclear power considered as a renewable form of energy”.  The document discussed is explicit in listing nuclear and CCS as separate to renewables.  Nuclear power is not a renewable technology, fact.

“At issue is what new EU targets should be put in place for 2030. The UK is one of a number of countries who believe any new targets should be technology neutral, leaving Member States free to determine the most cost effective energy mix to get the best deal for consumers.

“Our communication to the Commission explicitly states that the UK is not in any way “against renewables”.  Far from it – renewables will play a key role in the future UK energy mix, helping to reduce import dependency and meet our carbon targets.

“But the consumer will be best served in the long term through all low carbon energy technologies competing freely to meet our energy needs and emission reduction targets.”

The article in the Guardian follows various comments on renewable technologies especially with the reduction in Feed-In Tariffs.

In the article it says that removing the targets could spell disaster in particular for new forms of renewables such as wave and tidal power, “which have been tipped as areas in which the UK could lead the world?”

More information: www.decc.gov.uk