BWEA calls for government-backed retail investment scheme to promote UK renewable energy

1 February 2010

UK renewable energy trade association the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) has launched its pre-election manifesto urging the UK government to consider a raft of immediate measures in order to deliver on the UK’s 2020 targets, by promoting growth in the onshore and offshore wind sectors, wave and tidal energy sector and small wind systems.

The manifesto advocates a decisive push forward following the latest wind energy deployment statistics showing that the UK wind energy installation rate has topped 1GW for the first time in a calendar year.

Maria McCaffery, BWEA chief executive, said, ‘We have consulted our members extensively on what measures are needed to reach UK’s 2020 targets, and we have produced the most comprehensive and constructive set of proposals yet on how to enable the renewable industry to fulfil its potential. Policy makers from all parties would be well advised to have a read.’

The document singles out four key areas of concern including finance, planning, skills and supply chain and grid, offering a range of solutions for onshore, offshore, wave, tidal and small wind systems, including specific actions on reforming Ofgem to speed up grid connections, proposals on community benefits and a call for a government backed retail investment scheme.

‘The BWEA Manifesto offers not just a full-bodied and candid description of challenges facing the industry, but it addresses them one by one, offering realistic, achievable and eminently viable solutions. In 2009 the industry delivered over 1GW of capacity, sufficient to power 600,000 homes,’ said McCaffery. ‘We now have over 4GW of capacity installed, another 9.3GW in the pipeline and 9.4GW in planning – and this is not including the latest round of offshore developments. Given that our national target for 2020 is 30GW of wind, and 1GW to 2GW of wave and tidal, we now need one final and decisive push forward to put our industry on a sound footing.’

Key policy proposals in the Manifesto include reform of Ofgem’s remit to facilitate speedier connection of wind farms to the grid, benefits for communities hosting wind farms and action on planning including training for committee members.

BWEA said it plans to rebrand to the name RenewableUK in March 2010. The Welsh British Wind Energy Association BWEA Cymru also recently warned that the success of renewable technology manufacturing in Wales depends on onshore wind farms gaining planning permission.

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Tags: offshore wind, onshore wind, wind

This story was published on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 2:58 pm and is filed under Europe, Features, wind. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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