UK failing on renewable heat and transport targets

In an effort to comply with a legally binding EU target to source 15% of energy from renewables, the UK has set itself subtargets of 30% of electricity from renewables, 12% of heat, and 10% of transport fuel.

While the UK is on track to hit its electricity targets, Keep on Track claims the growth rate of the renewable heat and transport markets must increase.

In 2013, the most recent year for which figures were available for the study, the percentage of electricity coming from renewables stood at 13.9%, with transport at 4.4% and renewable heat at 2.6%.

Instability

Industry trade group, the Renewable Energy Association (REA), has responded to the analysis, pointing to legislative uncertainty as the reason behind the struggles.

Budgets for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) have yet to be set for 2016-2020, while on transport, the REA says “the Government’s cap on biofuels and lack of direction is a considerable barrier to growth”.

As a result, the industry is calling for an expansion of the RHI to 2020 and for the Government to provide sufficient tariff certainty for projects with long lead times.

On transport, the recommendations include a call for the Government to implement the final decisions taken by the EU on the ILUC proposals.

‘Get back on track’

REA chief executive Dr Nina Skorupska said: “This report couldn’t be clearer in its conclusion that the UK is underachieving in two of our three renewable energy obligations.

“There continues to be a number of major regulatory and administrative barriers holding back the progress of renewable energy deployment across Europe and the UK, and these must be addressed as a matter of urgency if we are to get back on track towards the 2020 targets.

“Our industry holds the key to meeting these obligations, securing cost-effective green energy and cheaper bills, while also creating thousands of skilled jobs in the process.

“It’s high time that this potential was unlocked, and we look forward to working with the Government to create a regulatory environment in which renewable energy can thrive.” 

Brad Allen