REA Welcomes Calls for Government to Accelerate Green Transport Fuels and Heating Technologies

• Influential reports urge Government to cut carbon from driving and heating

The Government has made good progress on renewable electricity but needs to ramp up efforts to bring renewable transport fuels and heating technologies into the mainstream, according to a report published today by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) [1]. A separate report by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) commends the Government's progress on supporting electric vehicles, but also calls on Government to build confidence for the low carbon fuels sector [2].

REA Chief Executive Dr Nina Skorupska said:

“It's great news for our energy security that the Government is currently on track for its 2020 renewable electricity ambitions. Industry needs certainty to 2020 a beyond to sustain investment. 2030 renewables targets are the clearest way to achieve this.

“Government will need a significant amount of additional new capacity to power all the electric cars it is working to bring online. This new capacity must be from low carbon sources – such as biomass, solar, wind and marine renewables – if electric vehicles are to contribute to reducing the risks of dangerous climate change.

“The carbon in the power supply is only one part of the problem. Government must accelerate the roll-out of existing solutions for low carbon driving and heating, such as biodiesel and bioethanol in our fuel tanks, and biomass boilers in our homes, offices and factories. Biogas from anaerobic digestion, which prevents methane emissions from farms and landfill, also has a key role to play in decarbonising power, heating and transport.”

The REA supports several of the policy recommendations made today by the CCC and the LowCVP, as described below:

Transport sector

• Push for stretching EU targets for emissions of new cars and vans for 2030 (CCC)
• Act swiftly to set out the future direction of [the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation] policy (CCC)
• A partnership between government and stakeholders, ideally with an EU perspective, to define the outlook for [low carbon] fuels (LowCVP)
• Greater clarity with regard to the role of biofuels with regard to the [2020 renewable energy targets] and also beyond 2020 (LowCVP)

Heat sector (CCC)

• Committing funding [for the Renewable Heat Incentive] to 2020
• Committing to continued existence of the RHI in the 2020s
• Reduce funding costs through addressing non-financial barriers
• Reduce funding costs by introducing new financing instruments
• Extending the Green Deal to support low-carbon heat
• Joining up low-carbon heat and fuel poverty policies
• Ensure that the Zero Carbon Homes standard requires investment in low-carbon heat

Power sector (CCC)

• Complete implementation of Electricity Market Reform (EMR)
• Add to the UK's criteria for biomass sustainability
• Set a carbon intensity target range for 2030
• Commit funding for low-carbon generation in the period beyond 2020
• Continue to push for a combination of EU ETS reform and ambitious emissions targets for 2020 and 2030

- Ends -

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

James Beard

Press Officer, REA

T: +44 (0)20 7981 0856

E: jbeard@r-e-a.net

Notes to Editors:

• The Renewable Energy Association represents renewable energy producers and promotes the use of all forms of renewable energy in the UK across power, heat, transport and renewable gas. It is the largest renewable energy trade association in the UK, with approximately 1,000 members, ranging from major multinationals to sole traders. For more information, visit: www.r-e-a.net

1. www.theccc.org.uk/news-stories/policy-strengthening-required-to-meet-future-carbon-budgets
2. www.lowcvp.org.uk/news,lowcvp-news-uk-auto-sector-renaissance-driven-by-low-carbon-policy-focus-new-report_3026.htm