Energy policy statements
This report examines the Scottish Government's ambitious target of sourcing the equivalent of 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, examining the engineering behind it and making recommendations to the Government to ensure the target is met.
This policy statement discusses key issues affecting cost-effectiveness in the UK electricity market and reviews the current situation in the context of electricity market reform.
With UK demand for power set to double by 2050, ambitious targets to deliver 15% of our energy from renewable resources by 2020 and tougher competition for finite fuel, climate change mitigation and energy security could be set on a collision course. This policy statement explores the suitable mix of electricity generation plant to meet this challenge.
Round 3 is set in the context of the EU's 20-20-20 targets and the UK's Climate Change Act. It is an ambitious development initiative which will greatly surpass the capacity of Rounds 1 and 2. This is an exciting opportunity for the UK's engineering and manufacturing industries, but does the UK have the capacity to deliver Round 3 in the timescale required?
With ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the electricity generation sector is being forced to decarbonise rapidly. Demonstration projects for CCS for coal plants are already in the pipeline, but what are we doing about gas plants?
Transport accounts for nearly 40% of all UK energy consumption and over a quarter of CO2 emissions. This statement details how we can reduce transport's ever increasing demand for energy.
Most of our electricity is derived from fossil fuels yet despite pressures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the overall contribution from low carbon sources has actually fallen over recent years. If we are serious about meeting our 2020 targets, do we need to rethink our approach?
The Energy Hierarchy is a framework that should guide UK energy policy. At its heart are the principles of sustainable development, which we believe should be more prominent in the Government's thinking.
The vast majority of our existing energy infrastructure was built more than 30 years ago. This statement looks at why and how we desperately need to adapt our energy infrastructure to changing patterns of supply and demand.
Over half of all UK carbon emissions occur not in the production of electricity or moving from A to B, but in the built environment. Much can be done to reduce energy demand from the sector in order to help the UK meet its ambitious climate change mitigation targets.
Energy from Waste (EfW) plants convert waste, which has significant energy potential, into usable energy in the form of electricity, heat and/or transport fuels yet the Government seems keen to ignore their potential. Why, if the rest of Europe is, are we not making more of our resources?
Scotland could be a world leader in marine energy; it has the resources, the engineering expertise and a reputation for innovation. On the cusp of success, do we need to do more to ensure the marine energy industry leads the way in this exciting area?
This update looks at the UK 2050 Energy Plan, the barriers to implementation and the respective solutions to achieving it.