UK’s renewable energy lobby sets requirements for political parties ahead of election

In the UK, leading renewable energy trade bodies have come together to launch a series of “tests” for the political parties to encourage them to support renewable energy ahead of the next election.

The six key tests laid out by the grouping are:
1. Support the Climate Change Act to keep us on course to meet our carbon commitments and back global efforts to tackle climate change.
2. Set a new renewables target for 2030 of 30% of UK energy
3. Back the Independent Committee on Climate Change’s recommendation to set a binding target for low carbon electricity by 2030.
4. Fund the Renewable Heat Incentive for new applications after 2016.
5. Boost the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to reach the 10% renewable energy target for transport by 2020.
6. Reform the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to ensure the market takes account of all sectors’ polluting cost of carbon emissions.

The group, which includes ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association), BHA (the British Hydropower Association), the British Photovoltaic Association, the Renewable Energy Association, RenewableUK, Scottish Renewables and the Solar Trade Association, has launched a campaign encouraging members of the public to write to the different party leaders to encourage them to take forward the principles into the General Election.

Earlier this year, the Renewable Energy Association expressed their disappointment in the Department of Transportation, as the group has failed to outline how it will meet its binding 10% 2020 renewable transport target. The current RTFO obligation level is set at 4.75% by volume, or approximately 3.5% by energy, so a nearly three-fold increase in biofuel supply is needed by 2020.

More on the campaign.