Gaynor Hartnell gave evidence to the Energy Bill Committee on Tuesday 19th February, alongside the BWEA, SDC and others. The hearing began by questioning Ofgem remit in relation to reducing carbon emissions, which is a key policy point the REA has been pursuing. Gaynor successfully raised and expressed all the points circulated previously in the REA’s written evidence, excluding the issue of renewable gas and injection to the grid. Other topics covered include Feed-in-tariffs, RO Banding and the role of Energy from Waste.
Cuts in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved at a net profit to the global economy, a study by McKinsey has found. The study discovered that investment in energy efficiency of about 170bn dollars a year worldwide would yield a profit of about 17 per cent, and cut carbon dioxide emissions by about half the amount needed to stabilise the gas at about 550 parts per million, the limit of safety according to the IPCC.
The Government has committed to consideration by the Committee on Climate Change on whether the 2050 target should be tightened up to 80 per cent, as the Committee contemplates its advice on the first three five-year carbon budgets. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced on Monday 18 February that a review of the target to reduce the UKs CO2 emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050 will become a statutory duty under the Climate Change Bill.
Please see attached article by Tony Lesowiec of Pera The European Parliament has given its backing to fund a 50bn programme for research and development for 2007-2013 , Seventh Framework Programme, to assist businesses across Europe to innovate. They are particularly keen to see companies develop commercial technologies in the energy sector, with an emphasis on renewable energy. For more information on accessing EU grants please contact Tony Lesowiec, tony.lesowiec@pera.com
Government targets could be threatened by a bottleneck in wind turbine orders reported the Independent newspaper on 15 February. Siemens, a leading wind turbine manufacturer, admitted yesterday that it had a four-year backlog of orders for its largest machines and new orders would not be filled until 2012.
Scottish Power has published information on charging statements and methodologies effective from 1st April 2008. The final charges for April 2008 are unchanged. Please see the website under the title SP Distribution 2008 to view the documents.
An ENDS report on Thursday 14 Feb described the governments Low Carbon Buildings Programme , LCBP, as descending into a farce again. The report said figures showed the number of grants paid out since Berr reformed the scheme last May had fallen by 66% a month.
Energy minister Malcolm Wicks has indicated that the government will be looking afresh at microgeneration in a consultation planned for this summer. Wicks also confirmed that feed-in-tariffs will be considered for a new strategy to meet the European Union's 2020 renewable-energy target, reported the Guardian today.
A seven-year study, funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the National Trust, has cited that deeply embedded failings in modern house building methods means the governments Zero Carbon Homes by 2016 goal will not be met.
