Regardless of the makeup of the government following next May’s general election, the REA has outlined some key ‘manifesto asks’ if renewable energy is to thrive as a major economic driver of jobs and growth.
MPs have been presented with copies of the REA Manifesto which asks the next government for:
- Support for the Climate Change Act to keep us on course to meet our carbon commitments
- A new renewables target for 2030 of 30 percent of UK energy
- Backing of the ICCC’s recommendation for a binding target for low carbon electricity by 2030
- Funding for the RHI for new application beyond 2016
- An increase in the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to reach the 10 percent renewable energy target for transport by 2020
- Reform to the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme
Energy secretary Ed Davey applauded the aims of the manifesto and said: “In government the Liberal Democrats have more than doubled renewable energy generation thanks to proper investment in the sector.
“But we want to do more and introduce a legally binding decarbonisation target to green our electricity and boost renewable heating.
“Pioneering work by the Renewable Energy Association’s members is vital to achieving these goals.”
REA chief executive Dr Nina Skorupska added: “Looking out to 2020, this manifesto sets out how the government can keep up the progress on renewable energy, and accelerate the roll-out of renewable heating technologies and transport fuels.
“Certainty beyond 2020 is also vital to enable industry to invest in innovation, expansion, skills and supply chain.”