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REA Comments on National Grid ESO’s Future Energy Scenarios
Today the National Grid ESO, with their latest Future Energy Scenarios, has reemphasised the scale of the transformation needed to decarbonise our power, heating and transport sectors to meet our 2050 decarbonisation targets.
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REA comments on CCC Progress Report
“Today’s CCC progress report must be the starting gun for Government to get on and deliver the UK’s legally binding ambitions to have net zero emissions by 2050. The report reflects the status of renewable and clean tech markets today, with a dearth of polices constraining the pipeline of power, heat and transport projects needed to deliver immediate carbon reductions.
What’s more this policy gap is currently expected to grow, support for renewable heat technologies – under the RHI – is set to come to an end in 2021, transport targets continue to lack sufficient ambition and some of the cheapest renewable power technologies lack a viable route to market. This current stasis puts supply chains and jobs at risk, while also slowing innovation which will be crucial to further decarbonisation in the future.
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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.
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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..
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Positive Commitments for the industry announced in Spring Statement
In the Spring Statement the Chancellor announced: a Consultation later this year on increasing the proportion of green gas in the grid with the aim of reducing natural gas dependency in homes and businesses; a Call for Evidence on an Energy Efficiency Scheme for Small and Medium Sized Businesses exploring how the Government can support investment in energy efficiency measures; as part of the Industrial Strategy Grand Challenge the introduction of a Future Homes Standard by 2025 to see fossil fuel heating systems replaced with low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures; a Call for Evidence on Offsetting Transport Emissions which will give consumers the option to offset emissions from their journeys.
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REA Welcomes Government’s proposals to reform waste system
Earlier today the Government announced their plans to overhaul the waste system through a series of consultations. The four consultations focus on reforming the UK packaging producer responsibility system, consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections in England, introducing a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and introducing a tax on plastic packaging which does not meet a minimum threshold of at least 30% recycled content.This comes exactly two months after the Resource and Waste Strategy was published promising to introduce mandatory food waste collections by 2023.
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GHG emissions have fallen 42% since 1990 amid Government’s £6m pledge supporting green taxis
New data published today by BEIS has found that total Green House Gas (GHG) emissions have fallen by 42% between 1990 and 2017 with a 38% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.The data also found that between 2016 and 2017, energy supply and the residential sector saw the largest reductions in emissions at 8% and 4% respectively. Further analysis from Carbon Brief has found that without shifts towards renewable power generation and energy-efficiency, carbon emissions could have been double that of the 1990 statistics.
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REA launches bioenergy review with new Call for Evidence
The REA has launched a far-reaching review into the future of bioenergy in the UK. Bioenergy is energy generated from bio-based fuels, such as wood pellets and biodiesel. The review comes shortly after the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) estimated bioenergy’s contribution to UK total energy could more than double by 2050. The International Energy Agency (IEA) described bioenergy as ‘the overlooked giant of renewables’. The review is expected to form a new policy strategy for government and industry, outlining how bioenergy can fulfil its long-term potential in a low-carbon energy mix..
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Greg Clark reaffirms the potential of renewables
In a speech made earlier today regarding the suspension of the Hitachi nuclear programme, Secretary of State Greg Clark claimed that renewable technologies are not only ‘cheap, but also readily available.’ This comes just two months after claiming ‘cheap power is now green power’ in his speech After the Trilemma.
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REA response to Clean Air Strategy
Government have today released the Clean Air Strategy. This follows on from a draft proposal and consultation in May 2018. Whilst the REA welcome the ambitions of the Clean Air Strategy, we urge the Government to commit to strong sector specific policies and take into account contemporary evidence on the role of bioenergy in meeting carbon targets. The REA urge the Government to focus on alternative courses of action to improve urban air quality through the uptake of electric vehicles and renewable transport fuels.
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WHA Calls for Stronger Enforcement of Smoke Control Laws and Raising Public Awareness to Address Air
The WHA welcomes the Governments focus on addressing genuine air quality concerns arising from the domestic burning of solid Fuels and wood, however, believe proposals will only improve air quality if they focus on stronger enforcement of the existing rules and better public education, especially in urban areas. The Smoke Control Act already provides powers to Local Authorities and Government to ban the use of these polluting technologies in Smoke Control Areas.
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Record electricity generation for renewables as coal hits record low
Government data, released today in the quarterly publication ‘Energy Trends’, revealed that renewables share of electricity generation reached a record high of 31.7% in the second quarter of 2018. As renewable electricity’s share of generation increased, coal’s share hit a record low of 1.6%.
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REA comments on Labour conference commitment towards renewables
The REA comments on the need for continued Governmental support in order to reach climate targets and progress renewable energy use.
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REview 2018: Concern as British renewable energy sector growth begins to cool
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Renewable Energy Association lay out vision for future of heat in buildings
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Renewables industry response to Clean Air Strategy