http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11904 Planet Ark Environmental News: UPDATE - UK green power scheme set for early 2002
UK: August 6, 2001 LONDON - Britain plans to launch early next year a scheme to give green energy a billion-pound ($1.4 billion) boost and help curb the country's emissions of greenhouse gases, the government said last week. Under the Renewables Obligation, previously expected to start in October, electricity companies will have to produce 10.4 percent of their output from green energy sources by 2011, up sharply from around 2.8 percent now. The government expects this requirement to unleash a flurry of investments in renewable energy projects such as wind farms, solar power plants and biomass sites, and to improve the economics of existing green energy projects. The scheme would also cover hydro-electric power stations. "This government will back the generators who invest in green power plants", said energy minister Brian Wilson in a statement. "Harmful greenhouse gases must be driven down...these policies will encourage generation from truly renewable energy sources, minimising all harmful emissions," he said. In the longer term, even more ambitious targets could be set. The scheme, which is subject to parliamentary approval and clearance from the European Commission, would form a framework for the development of Britain's green energy up until at least 2027, the government said. AMBITIOUS TARGETS ON EMISSIONS The move is crucial to the government's targets on cutting emissions of greenhouse gases, cited by many scientists as a major contributor to global warming. The government's Climate Change Strategy, announced in late 2000, aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent on 1990 levels by 2010. This is almost double the target of 12.5 percent to which the UK is committed under the Kyoto protocol. The UK in 1999 produced emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent of 654 million tonnes, according to the latest government data. Environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth weclomed Friday's announcement but said the scheme did not go far enough. The group has called for a doubling of the government's target on use of green energy to 20 percent. Colin Palmer, director of Bristol-based windfarm developer Wind Prospect Ltd, said the initiative would ease financial pressures on his business exerted by new wholesale electricity trading arrangements (NETA), launched earlier this year. "This should transform our business into something worthwhile, rather than an unprofitable business," he told Reuters. "Under NETA times are hard, we are relying on the Renewables Obligation." Critics of NETA say it penalises green power producers because their output of electricity is less predictable than that of large utilities. "And on the development side, we will have a clear mechanism for funding," Palmer added. Friday's move comes as energy regulator Ofgem prepares to publish the results of a survey of the impact of NETA on small, green generators during the first two months of NETA. The survey was ordered by Peter Hain, Wilson's predecessor. Earlier this week, the government said it was setting up a working group to push through industry recommendations on removing barriers to the development of green energy projects. The role of renewable energy is under scrutiny in a root-and-branch review of Britain's future energy policy, launched by the government in June. The review comes amid concerns over how Britain can juggle the need to cut emissions while maintaining secure energy supplies as North Sea reserves of oil and gas start to dwindle. Story by Stuart Penson REUTERS NEWS SERVICE ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Small business owners... Tell us what you think! http://us.click.yahoo.com/vO1FAB/txzCAA/ySSFAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
