Government Reconfirms Support for Renewables

The renewable energy sector has welcomed recent Government announcements that have reconfirmed its commitment to the industry. Following speculation that support may be scaled down, Energy Minister Baroness Verna stated in a House of Lords debate on the forthcoming Energy Bill that MPs aren’t ‘…talking about changing support for large-scale renewables.’

Baroness Verna’s October announcement followed a previous Government statement to the press that, whilst spending on a number of ‘green levy’ policies are being reviewed, support for renewables won’t be affected.

The renewables industry received a further boost at the RenewableUK Conference, held in Birmingham in November. Energy Secretary Ed Davey spoke warmly about the offshore energy sector’s success and future potential, and went on to pledge £2.5m worth of Government funding investment into four offshore wind projects. The money will be used to develop new technologies to help reduce the costs of offshore wind power in the long term.

The onshore wind industry was also singled out for praise, described by Mr Davey as ‘a huge success story.’ He then went on to say that the renewables industry as a whole, which already employs 35,000 people in the UK, has the potential to reduce energy supply costs by up to £160bn by 2050, whilst contributing £89bn to the UK economy at the same time.

Wilding says: There’s been a lot of doubt and rumour about the withdrawal of Government support circulating around the renewables industry in recent months and it’s great to see this being firmly dispelled. The industry needs Government support and ongoing commitment if it’s to achieve its potential on a commercially viable scale.

Sources: Business Green and RenewableUK