Government 'inconsistent' in energy policy, says report
- Published: 01 August 2008 10:15
- Last Updated: 01 August 2008 11:51
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Britain does not need to build major new power stations to fill the projected 'energy gap' if it meets its renewable targets, according to a new report by energy consultants Pöyry, commissioned by green groups WWF and Greenpeace.
The report says that if the British government meets its EU renewable energy tagets, and its own plans to reduce demand through energy efficiency, then new coal or gas power stations power would not be needed before 2020.
Head of Climate Change at WWF-UK, Keith Allott said, "This report should be good news for the Government. If it gets real on its targets on renewables and energy efficiency then we can keep the lights on, reduce our reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports and dramatically cut our carbon emissions.
"But a green light to Kingsnorth would at a stroke undermine the Government's other policies on climate change and Gordon Brown's promise of a clean energy revolution."
According to the report, the new coal-fired station at Kingsnorth would not be needed to plug the 'evergy gap' expected by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with the additional renewables.
The report went on to say that if the government met its wind power targets, then it alone would be able to supply the power needed, even taking into account the very few days when there is little or no wind.
Greenpeace's head of climate and energy, Robin Oakley said, "Coal is the single most climate-wrecking form of electricity generation. The only reason anyone is even considering building Britain's first coal fired power station in decades is the claim that we need it to keep the lights on. E.ON's spin machine and the Labour government have teamed up to hoodwink the public into believing it, but this report busts their argument wide open."
The government's current commitment is to 15% of our total energy from renewable sources by 2020, with as much as 35% of Britain's electricity coming from renewables.
