According to the Guardian this week, the UK is currently third from bottom in a European renewable energy league table.
Despite the UK being the windiest country in Europe, the UK generates just under 2% of its energy from renewable energy such as wind energy and solar. This is less than most countries in Europe – with the exception of Luxembourg and Malta.
The table illustrating percentages of energy requirements sourced from renewables was produced in response to a parliamentary question asked by Michael Meacher – former environment minister. Sweden was top of the table with 35.7% of electricity consumption from renewables followed by Romania with 19.2%. Denmark and Portugal also ranked high.
Robin Oakley of Greenpeace blames the UK renewable obligation certificate (ROC) for the lack of progress, saying that countries with feed in tariffs are more attractive to investors due to a more certain financial return. He fails to recognise that the value and rate of the return is just as important as the confidence any financial mechanism provides. The ROC has resulted in wind energy projects being developed in locations that have enough wind resource to make them economically and environmentally sustainable. Many companies see financial returns from wind energy projects in the UK as more attractive than in European countries such as Germany – because the returns are likely to be greater – particularly with the overall higher wind speeds.
A representative from the Department of Energy and Climate Change referred to an increase of 26% in onshore wind power generation from 2006 to 2007 and a 20% increase in offshore wind. The planning system is the most influential factor preventing the faster delivery of renewable energy in the UK – although the government is not helping investor confidence by allowing rates on wind farms to soon be doubled.
