Enigin Update - Report Calls for UK to Forget Renewable Target
THE UK should abolish its renewable energy targets and focus on cheaper ways to reduce carbon emissions, according to researchers at Policy Exchange.
Britain could save 12.5 billion pounds ($20.6 billion) by cutting back ambitious wind farm projects and "renegotiate its commitment" to the European Union’s (EU) target of generating 20 per cent of all energy from renewable sources by 2020, the London-based research group said in an e-mailed report yesterday.
Simon Moore, the author of the report and research fellow said: “The target diverts current and future resources away from measures that could save the same amount of carbon at a lower cost, such as energy efficiency, nuclear and carbon-capture and storage.
“The U.K.’s commitment to meeting the EU’s renewable energy target is actually damaging the goal of global carbon reduction. If the UK is to set a compelling carbon reduction example to other countries we need to show that emissions can be cut at a reasonable cost. The renewable energy target fails to do this.'” Moore added.
The EU’s target of 20 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2020 requires the UK to raise its renewable sources by around 30 percent. According to the report to achieve this target would cost the UK £66 billion ($99 billion).
The report called for the UK to negotiate leaving, or downgrading and exiting from the EU renewable energy target for 2020. The study claimed this move would not mean giving up tackling climate change, but would ensure carbon emission cuts would be cost-effective.
Modelling used to produce the report suggested the country does not need to meet the EU commitment to meet its legally-binding target to cut emissions by 80 percent by mid-century.
Enigin Distributors in the UK take interest in such views, but concentrate on enabling the public and private sectors to improve their energy efficiency, reducing their carbon emissions and saving on utility costs.
Enigin Plc's range of solutions not only help control and manage energy use from the grid, but can also provide support for any renewable energy sources at an organisations facilities.
London-based lobby group, The Renewable Energy Association, countered that the report was “seriously misguided.”
“Renewables are needed for energy security, to boost and rebalance the U.K. economy, as well as definitely cut carbon,” the association said in an e-mailed statement. “The Policy Exchange’s call to abolish the renewable energy target is, frankly, dangerous and will drag us to into the dark ages.”
Greenpeace chief scientist, Dr Doug Parr, said: "At best this report is naive. To forgo our strategic lead in marine renewables would be disastrous for the future of UK industry and the jobs it creates.
"Policy Exchange may be the Prime Minister's favourite think tank but their proposals would damage the environment and lose the UK valuable jobs at a time when they are most needed.''
Picture Off-shore Wind Farm Turbine by Phault
