Renewable Energy in the 2007 Energy White Paper

Professor Catherine Mitchell, University of Exeter

Provides an overview of progress on renewables within the UK, the current support mechanisms for them, new policy developments and what needs to change to better enable their development. To date, progress has been poor, in comparison to other EU countries, with support in the UK currently provided through the Renewable Obligation. The EWP sets an aspiration for 20% renewable electricity by 2020 and sets out policy developments for banding the RO and changing the planning regime; however, it does not deal with renewable heat or transport and continues to play down microgeneration and market intervention. A real issue continues to be a lack of a long term strategy for the UK energy system, which the EWP fails to address.