Increased capacity for renewables should be delivered through the planning system, says report

The UK has been allocated a target to increase the proportion of its energy use provided from renewables to 15% by 2020. The current percentage is less than 2%. The Secretary of State has asked the Renewables Advisory Board (RAB) to advise on policy issues and the potential for UK wealth creation and jobs related to achievement of this target.

A new report, 2020 Vision, suggests that the UK could generate 14% of its total energy from renewables by 2020 if a set of identified radical policy changes are put into effect quickly. Recommendations include accelerating grid studies, streamlined consenting processes, early introduction of revised support mechanisms and, most importantly, strong political leadership. The Board has also advised the Government how the additional measures could go on to achieve the full 15% share required by the EU’s renewable energy target.

It has called for the construction of the Severn barrage, a 6GW increase in wind power and a further 30 per cent rise in energy production from renewables in the built environment sector.

RAB’s strategy has been to develop its vision of the 2020 renewables market and then address the many policy issues that will need to be implemented if that vision is to be realised. This report outlines RAB’s 2020 Vision and identifies some of the most important issues that need to be tackled, many urgently.

RAB head of on-site renewables Andrew Cooper said: 'The planning system already has most of the policy tools it requires. What we really need is increased capacity brought through the planning system.'

The report has been submitted as evidence to the Internal Market Sub-Committee of the House of Lords Select Committee on the EU.