Low carbon: Changes over the next 10 years
How Ed Miliband’s White Paper strategises the UK’s journey towards achieving the desired carbon reduction over the next decade
Power
2009
- Wind (onshore and offshore) produces over 4GW of power
- Government publishes a high level vision for a future smart grid Third round of leases for 25GW offshore wind sites awarded
- Shortlist of possible Severn Tidal schemes published
- Pay as you save pilots start
2010
- New planning regime begins
- Anticipated first deployment of wave and tidal energy demonstration projects under the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund
- Reforms to the Renewables Obligation are introduced
- Government makes a decision on Severn Tidal scheme
2011
- Levy on electricity suppliers to fund carbon capture and storage demonstration projects in place
- Commissioning of Wave Hub energy testing centre in Cornwall and first deployment of wave energy devices
- Expansion of wave and tidal energy testing sites in Northumbria and Orkney completed
2013
- The cap for the EU Emissions Trading System starts to be tightened every year from now
- The power sector starts paying for every tonne of carbon emitted by purchasing allowances in EU Emissions Trading System auctions
- Construction of first new nuclear power stations expected to be underway
2014
- First UK commercial scale carbon capture and storage demonstration intended to be operational
- Larger-scale wave and tidal energy generation (>10MW) starts to be deployed
2015
- The EU will have selected 12 carbon capture and storage demonstration projects for support across the EU
2018
- Plans show first new nuclear power station operational
2020
- Around 30% of electricity is generated from renewable sources
- 40% of electricity will come from low carbon sources
- Up to four carbon capture and storage demonstration projects operational in the UK
Transport
2009
- Almost 340 ultra-low emission cars on the road in the coming 18 months, the largest project of its kind in the world
- Delivery of several hundred low carbon buses over 2009 and 2010
- Improved cycle storage facilities at up to 10 major railway stations during 2009-10
2010
- Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation is amended or replaced to deliver renewable transport goals
- Following High Speed Two’s report to Government at the end of 2009, Government intends to consult on proposals for a new high speed rail line between London and the West Midlands
2011
- The Government provides £2,000-5,000 per vehicle to help reduce the cost of ultra low carbon cars
- Government departments and agencies meet target to procure new cars for administrative purposes that meet EU standard for 2015
2012
- All flights arriving in or departing from European airports become part of the EU Emissions Trading System
- 500,000 more children trained to ride safely through the Bikeability programme
- Government to set an environmental target for train operators for the period 2014-19
2013
- Fuel suppliers are required to ensure that 5% of road transport fuel comes from renewable sources by 2013/14
2014
- New Super Express trains which are greener and less noisy are rolled out from 2014
2015
- Average level of emissions from new cars sold in Europe is 130g CO2/km
2020
- Average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars in Europe will be 95g CO2/km − representing a 40% improvement from 2007 levels
- 10% of transport energy to come from sustainable renewable sources
Waste, homes & workplaces
Source: Caters News Agency Ltd
2009
- 880,000 people work in the green sector
- Government provides £1.4 billion of targeted support for low carbon industries in the world
- Central Government departments take on carbon budgets for their own estate and operations
2010
- Central government buildings will be 15% more efficient than in 1999/00
- Building Regulations improve energy efficiency by 25% compared to 2006 regulations
2011
- First sale of allowances for the Carbon Reduction Commitment for 2010 and 2011 in April
- Energy wasting traditional light bulbs are no longer sold
2013
- Building Regulations improve energy efficiency by 44% compared to 2006 regulations
2015
- 1.2m people could be working in the green sector
- Low carbon economy could be worth £150m a year in UK and £4.3bn a year globally
- The NHS expects to have reduced its carbon footprint by 10% compared to today
2016
- All new homes zero carbon
2018
- New nuclear power stations could create or sustain up to 9000 jobs during the course of construction and operation (including supply chains)
- Government ambition for all new public sector (nondomestic) buildings to be zero carbon
- Very little biomass is landfilled, emissions are tightly controlled
2020
- Up to half a million additional jobs in the UK renewable energy sector, including supply chains
- End of 2020 every home in UK will have a smart meter
- 12% of heat is generated from renewable sources, equivalent to supplying 4 million households based on current heating demand
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