UK - Renewable energy back with a vengeance

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), the UK’s leading green energy trade body, warmly welcomes two new statements of intent on delivering a renewables future for the UK. Speaking at the All Energy conference in Aberdeen, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks re-iterated the Government’s support for renewables, saying that they were back on the agenda with a vengeance, while Deputy First Minister and Enterprise Minister Nicol Stephen MSP announced a new funding package for emerging renewable technologies.

Wicks highlighted the positive findings from the first DTI commissioned NOP survey – published today – saying that “despite all the hot air and scepticism from certain quarters, 85% of the general public support the use of renewable energy, 81% are in favour of wind power and just over three fifths would be happy to live within 5km of a wind power development.” The findings of this survey confirm once again the high level of public support for the development of wind power in the UK, and also the fact that wind farms do make good neighbours.

Chris Tomlinson, BWEA’s Director of Operations, commenting on today’s news, said:

“BWEA warmly welcomes this timely announcement from the UK Government and the Scottish Executive, both reaffirming their belief in the renewables sector, and recognising the vital role of established and emerging renewable technologies. The established technology is delivering, with BWEA’s recent research showing that onshore wind able to meet nearly 5% of the UK’s electricity needs by 2010.

While onshore wind leads the renewables industry in the present, this is merely the first step in catalysing investor confidence across the entire portfolio of renewable technologies, enabling them to deliver a long term sustainable energy future for the UK.”

Stephens meanwhile announced a £20 million package over a two-year period, including £8 million for research, testing and demonstration of emerging wave and tidal technologies, and the previously announced £3 million boost for the Scottish Communities & Households Renewables Initiative to support micro-generation, and declared the Scottish Executive’s intent to concentrate on ensuring that the jobs and economic benefits arising from renewables remain firmly in Scotland and the UK.

However BWEA’s research also highlights the need for a positive planning policy and prompt decision making in Scotland to reflect the spirit of the Scottish Executive’s determination for a vibrant and sustainable renewables industry in Scotland in this decade and the next.