General renewables policy and REA's policy priorities

The REA works with members and others to assist in the development of the policy landscape for renewables.

Wherever possible this work is aligned with international, national and regional policy development, so many of the outputs of the REA's work will be contained in our responses to consultations and the evidence we give to parliamentary select committees and others.

There are other areas where we proactively develop new policy proposals and these are described under the various tabs on the left.

General policy statements which have come from this work are shown in the documents linked below and in the following key themes.

The role of renewables

Renewable energy is often presented as a solution solely to climate change. In fact Renewables has a much broader contribution to make to the UK economy. We see the main drivers as:

• Energy security - locally produced renewable energy uses abundant resources like wind and sunshine and does not require importing or transport across large distances
• Environmental - renewable energies are by definition sustainable so do not cause climate change, pollution and other adverse environmental side-effects
• Financial - renewable energies are often competitive with traditional energy sources, when the full costs of emissions and waste are included. The costs are also far more stable and predictable
• Economic - renewable energy provides jobs in the UK for producers, installers and energy producers.

The energy hierarchy

We see renewable energy as being complementary to energy efficiency as part of the sustainable energy agenda.

We have proposed an Energy Hierarchy (similar to the established Waste Hierarchy) as a way of identifying the relative priorities for energy production and usage options.

Where everything else is in this section

UK policy measures specific to renewable energy, to wider energy issues and to related environmental issues are listed under the relevant sector.

More general information, non UK policies and related non-energy topics, such as agriculture, building and waste management appear under the relevant international, european, UK, devolved or regional legislative level.

Our responses, and proactive REA policy development are shown in the REA policy section. We believe that there is often a strong benefit from working with a wider range of stakeholders in such policy development, and we often do so as shown in the collaborative policy section.

Don't worry, it should all be cross-referenced, so can find what you want, whichever way you go! (If it isn't - let us know)