News & Blog



(463 results)

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - Jun 17, 2019

REA welcomes the Mayor of London’s electric vehicle infrastructure plan

Earlier this morning the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, launched the London electric vehicle infrastructure delivery plan. The plan outlines the mayor’s plans to expand London’s electric vehicle charging network and bring forward the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles in London from 2040 to 2030.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - Jun 12, 2019

Renewable energy industry celebrates another record breaking year at prestigious awards ceremony

The winners of the annual British Renewable Energy Awards were announced last night at the InterContinental Hotel in London.The annual awards ceremony is the industry’s most prestigious event and celebrates the most outstanding projects and companies of the past year.The REA congratulates all those nominated, shortlisted, ‘highly-commended’ and the winners of this year’s Awards. This year’s ceremony was sponsored by National Grid ESO.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - Jun 12, 2019

REA welcomes decision to legislate for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

The UK Government has confirmed that they will be adopting the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendation for net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050. Secondary legislation is due to be introduced shortly.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - Jun 11, 2019

REA welcomes report claiming E10 could save public £100 million in a year

The All Party Parliamentary Group for British Bioethanol published its Interim Report today calling for the UK to join other developed countries including Germany, Belgium, France, Finland and the US and move to E10 petrol.The report has found that immediately introducing E10 could save motorists £100 million in 2020. The greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirement for fuels which is currently set at 4% in 2019 is due to rise to 6% in 2020. Introducing E10 could reduce the impact of this challenge, which is most likely to be passed down to motorists in fuel prices, by £100 million.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - Jun 10, 2019

Government confirms details and timeline for a Smart Export Guarantee

Government will legislate for a Smart Export Guarantee – mandating most electricity suppliers to offer a tariff that pays homes and businesses exporting renewable electricity by 31st December 2019. REA welcomes this positive step towards a more decarbonised, local, and cheaper power system. Industry concern over lack of ambition in zero-minimum price and no contract length, in addition to delay in introduction following the closure of the Feed in Tariff. Industry supportive of ensuring the policy is linked to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, and that mechanisms are in place to review the scheme should it become apparent that generators cannot access competitive tariffs.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - Jun 3, 2019

Meeting Net-Zero GHG not possible without Bioenergy

A new report from the UK’s leading renewable trade association has found that the sustainable use of bioenergy is core to the UK meeting its legally binding 5th Carbon Budget. By increasing its deployment by a factor of 2.5 by 2032, sustainable bioenergy, which is currently the UK’s leading source of renewable energy, has the potential to meet both the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) projected shortfall of the 5th Carbon Budget and the impending nuclear gap by providing an additional 117 TWh across heat, transport and power.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - May 31, 2019

RHI Grace Period to be extended following industry campaign

The Government announced that they will be extending the RHI grace period following a coordinated industry campaign.Under previous RHI regulations, all plants with a Tariff Guarantee would have needed to commence injection of biomethane by 31st January 2020 or 183 days after the date on which the applicant expected the injection to commence..

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - May 29, 2019

REA comments on EV charging sites outnumbering petrol stations for the first time

Figures from Zap-Map reveal that as of 22 May, the number of public EV charging locations now exceeds the number of petrol stations.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - May 24, 2019

Welcome RIIO2 boost for Green Gas sector following REA and REAL Campaigning

Ofgem published their RIIO-GD2 specific methodology. The announcement sees Ofgem encourage the deployment of biomethane. REA and REAL welcome the announcement having campaigned for the greater use of biomethane, reversing earlier proposals that did not include the technology.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - May 16, 2019

Labour to fit 1.75 million homes with solar panels as UK solar sets a new generation record

Jeremy Corbyn and Rebecca Long Bailey outline Labour’s plans to reduce energy bills by installing solar panels on 1.75 million homes. This initiative is part of Labour’s Green Industrial Revolution and promises to reduce the energy bills of low-income households by an average of £117 a year. This comes just two days after UK solar generation broke records by providing 26% of the country’s total power output.

BLOG - May 14, 2019

Bioenergy: the key to unlocking a low carbon future?

Having spent a large part of my career intermingling in numerous bioenergy circles, it has become clear that the lack of an all-encompassing bioenergy bible (so to speak) has become a hindrance to the progression of the technologies it comprises of.

BLOG - May 10, 2019

First do no harm

Sitting on the board of Women in Science and Engineering, it’s been my passionate hope that we can inspire a new generation of young women to take on the mantle and find solutions to the biggest problem we face in the world-climate change. Yet I never thought a 16 year old girl with her simple, clear and no holds barred message would inspire me so much in return. On the other end of the scale, a 92 year old is hoping to do for climate change what he did for the plastics debate over a year ago.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - May 9, 2019

Public support for renewables remains high as Britain goes a full week without coal

BEIS today published their quarterly Public Attitudes Tracker. The report found that support for renewable technologies including solar and wave and tidal reached their highest levels since the survey began in 2012. Support for the use of renewable energy remained high at 84%. This report comes as it is announced that Britain went a full week without coal for the first time since 1882.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - May 3, 2019

Tax rate hike for domestic Solar, Storage and Biomass Boiler markets contested by industry

A sudden consultation released by HMRC, which closes today, proposes to increase VAT rates for technologies such as solar, biomass boilers, and energy storage. The VAT rate hike from 5% to 20% for many domestic installations will make it more expensive for households to reduce their carbon footprint and further slow deploymentThe hike comes off the back of wider withdrawal of policy support and in the same week the UK Parliament declared a ‘climate emergency’ and the Committee on Climate Change published its report recommending the UK reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050Supplies of coal fuel for home use still receive a reduced 5% VAT rate. The REA has come up with possible solutions in its consultation response and urges government not to proceed with this hike or reclassify solar, biomass boilers and energy storage, to ensure incentives for decarbonising homes are supported.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - May 2, 2019

CCC confirm that the fall in the cost of renewables will enable ‘net zero’ Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) publish their long awaited report on setting the UK’s long-term emissions targets. The report highlights that the significant decline in renewable energy costs makes this more ambitious target more affordable. REA support report but argue that to secure economic advantages of being a first mover, long-term investable policy is required.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES - Apr 8, 2019

REA comments on the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)

On the 8th April the Ultra-Low Emission Zone will come into force in Greater London.

BLOG - Apr 1, 2019

Renewables in Buildings; Building ‘Power’ful Homes of the Future

Emissions reductions from the UK’s 29 million homes have stalled, while energy use in homes – which accounts for 14% of total UK emissions – increased between 2016 and 2017. Our homes are just not good enough to deal with climate change, the CCC warns in its recent report. Energy nerds realise the low hanging fruit is being picked (decarbonising power), and that we now need to focus on encouraging new sectors (especially construction and transport) to join the renewables transition. The Government’s spring statement highlighted their dedication to decarbonising the buildings sector, so this blog looks to review targets and policy framework, understand what the future homes package looks like, and explore its real value.