England to miss renewable energy targets
Elaine Brass
14th July 2009
England’s eight regions look set to miss their targets for generating electricity from renewables by 50 per cent and some regions, such as the South West, will not even reach a third of their targets, according to a report from British Wind Energy Association (BWEA).
In ‘England’s Regional Renewable Energy Targets: Progress Report', the BWEA reveals the only part of England set to reach its 2010 target is London, but the capital's overall contribution is around two per cent of total nationwide
renewable electricity. Meanwhile, the report states, the UK will only meet
its 10 per cent goal because both Scotland and Northern Ireland are set
to exceed their targets.
The English regions all have voluntary, individual targets to take the UK towards generating 10 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2010, as opposed to the European-wide 2020 targets, which are binding.
Maria McCaffery, BWEA chief executive said: "The target based approach works – all it takes is the political will to deliver. In Scotland, renewables targets were backed by a policy framework and decisive central Government action. As a consequence, Scotland achieved more installed capacity then it was aiming for, thus helping to improve the overall UK picture as we approach 2010. But, in England we need to think carefully on how to use the lessons learned from 2010, as we attempt to reach the binding EU wide 2020 targets."
The report is critical of local planning systems in England and Wales saying that they are slow and ineffective taking an average of 14 months, against a statutory guideline period of 16 weeks. Around half of wind farm applications taken to appeal for refusal or non-determination are then approved, which the BWEA report claims raises doubts about the ability of local planning authorities to deliver the nation's renewables programme.
"If we want to use 2010 as a dry run for 2020, timeliness and political initiative would be the two key lessons we should implement. A clear schedule of implementation backed by central Government, with a system of checks and balances as we approach 2020, will be crucial if we want to join the renewable energy revolution, and not be laggards in Europe," concluded McCaffery.