The Energy & Utilities Alliance (EUA) has responded to the Energy & Climate Change Select Committee inquiry into the 2020 renewable heat and transport targets.

The inquiry was launched in March to explore the main challenges with, and potential solutions to, meeting the UK’s 2020 renewable energy targets for heat and transport.


The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets a target for the UK to achieve 15% of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. The government has proposed to achieve this across the electricity, heat and transport sectors by ensuring that 30% of electricity, 12% of heat and 10% of transport demand are met by renewable sources.


While progress towards the share of renewable electricity is on track, concerns have been raised regarding progress in renewable heat and transport, and the Committee on Climate Change has warned that the government’s ambitions may no longer be achievable.


Isaac Occhipinti, head of external affairs at EUA said: “EUA does not believe the 2020 renewable energy target is an appropriate one for the greater aim of reducing carbon emissions in the UK. We urge the Energy & Climate Change Committee to recommend a move away from the arbitrary and ineffective renewables targets for 2020, and instead look at how we decarbonise the UK for 2050.


“The only sensible, cost effective and deliverable solution to decarbonising heat is by ‘greening’ our gas. It can be done, it can be delivered effectively, and it is already being done on a small scale across the country.”


National Grid estimated in their paper ‘The Future of Gas’ that around 50% of energy demand for heat could be met by biogases by 2050. This in effect could provide renewable heat to all homes on the gas grid without any action required by the homeowner, explained Mr Occhipinti.


“These are the type of policies that the Government should be pursuing. They are cost effective, innovative and provide the best coverage for the cost. They also do not close other energy vectors,” he concluded.


To read the full submission please visit http://www.eua.org.uk/sites/default/files/pub_res_downloads/EUA-response-to-the-2020-renewable-heat-and-transport-targets-inquiry.pdf



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