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UK could fall behind in renewables sector without clarity warns Savills energy

Tim Waterfield, Head of Operations at Savills Energy, has echoed calls by the Renewable Energy Assocation (REA) for greater clarity on energy policy in 2015 and beyond.
UK could fall behind in renewables sector without clarity warns Savills energy

The REA, one of the main trade associations for the renewable energy sector in the UK, warned that the next government in 2015 will be responsible for the UK succeeding or failing in meeting its 2020 renewable energy targets. It could also be the government that manages to turn the renewable energy sector in the country into a prime source of jobs and growth in the energy sector and reducing the UK’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.

The REA’s Manifesto ‘Growing the Renewable Energy Economy’ outlines the key ‘manifesto asks’ for key technologies across renewable heating, power and transport fuels. A common theme across all the sectors is the continuing calls for clear, stable policy.

The UK currently lags behind in the clean energy race, sitting at 26th out of 28 in the EU renewables league table. However, in its recent report REVIEW the REA found that policies put in place to date towards the 2020 renewable energy targets have generated £30 billion of investment, sustaining over 100,000 jobs while achieving the country’s 2020 targets would generate a further £64 billion of investment, sustaining 400,000 jobs.

“From clean power infrastructure to Zero Carbon Homes and from heat networks to sustainable transport, this is the most comprehensive guide a government could wish for if they’re seeking to maximise the value of this young, vibrant and innovative industry” said the REA’s chief executive, Dr Nina Skorupska. “Looking out to 2020, this manifesto sets out how the Government can keep up the progress on renewable electricity, and accelerate the roll-out of renewable heating technologies and transport fuels. Certainty beyond 2020 is also vital to enable industry to invest in innovation, expansion, skills and supply chains.”

Commenting on the REA manifesto, Tim Waterfield said:

“The REA’s call for clarity and certainty over our future energy policy is one that we welcome. Indeed, it is something that Savills Energy has been calling for throughout the radical changes to the energy landscape that have taken place over the past two years. Experience across the UK and wider European energy landscape clearly demonstrates that delays and policy uncertainty have a significant impact on investment.”

Waterfield added that the UK is now in a situation where our energy security is finely balanced and that risk in energy supplies affects every aspect of our economy.

“It is clear that whoever comes to power in 2015 needs to show clear leadership to drive the evolution in our energy mix forward with confidence” he said. “This will encourage much-needed investment in our long-term energy requirements. Ultimately, energy is too critical an issue to become a political football; it is clear that change needs to happen and happen quickly in order to secure the future prosperity of our country. In order to meet the legally binding target of 15% of our energy to be met by renewables by 2020, policy certainty is crucial.”

The government’s Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Davey, responded by saying that in government the Liberal Democrats have more than doubled renewable energy generation thanks to proper investment in the sector. He added that as part of creating a stronger economy the UK is on target to produce 250,000 green jobs across the UK by 2020 but that the Liberal Democrats want to do even more by introducing a legally binding decarbonisation target to green the country’s electricity and boost renewable heating.

MPs have already been presented with copies of the REA Manifesto at a series of breakfast seminars the trade association ran last week. The document builds on the Action for Renewables campaign launched earlier, which sets six top line key asks for the next government, including supporting the Climate Change Act to keep the country on course to meet its carbon commitments, setting a new renewables target for 2030 of 30 percent of UK energy and backing the Independent Committee on Climate Change's recommendation to set a binding target for low carbon electricity by 2030.

The REA said it will continue to work with fellow trade associations and other stakeholders to make the case for growing the renewable energy economy in the run-up to the general election.

For additional information:

REA Manifesto ‘Growing the Renewable Energy Economy’

Renewable Energy Association (REA)

Savills Energy

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

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