NEWS New heat strategy seeks views of industry
l Consultation document seeks the industry’s view on future plans
The government has set out its vision of how it can cut emissions from heating homes, businesses and industry in future decades, and has called for the views of industry. It has published its heat strategy, which ‘sets out the long-term challenges and opportunities on the pathway to decarbonisation’, says the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
Almost half of the energy consumed in the UK is used to generate heat for buildings and water, in cooking food and manufacturing goods or to keep offices and homes cool in hot weather, according to DECC.
The strategy asks specific questions on future policy options and includes a range of different low carbon heat case studies, including major district heating networks in the UK. Climate Change and Energy Secretary Edward Davey said of the proposals: ‘Many towns, cities and communities across the UK are already
switching from fossil fuels to low carbon forms of heating like biomass, heat pumps and solar thermal.
‘I want to give the opportunity to others to follow the pioneers so that, in time, our buildings are no longer dependent on burning fossil fuels for heat but using affordable and reliable alternatives to help create a flourishing, competitive low carbon manufacturing industry.’ DECC has also launched a new interactive National Heat Map, an online website aimed at helping planners to identify potential areas for district heating networks.
The new map, developed for DECC by the
Centre for Sustainable Energy, will allow planners to visualise the potential for heat networks in their area.
Separately, DECC has issued provisional 2011 estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions. The figures show that in 2011, UK net emissions of carbon dioxide are estimated to be 456.3 million tonnes, 8% down on 2010.
The fall in CO2 emissions from the residential sector was 22%, while the business sector saw an 8% drop and the energy supply sector a 6.1% fall.
A new UK heat strategy has been launched
CRC reforms outlined by government
Proposals for simplifying the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) energy efficiency scheme have been published.
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The CRC, which requires larger energy users to report their levels of carbon emissions, had come under attack for being too complex. In its original form, the scheme recycled payments from participants purchasing emission allowances to reward those which improved their energy efficiency most.
But the scheme was revised to generate revenue for the Treasury, prompting concern within the UK business sector.
The government is asking for comments on a range of simplifications to the scheme aimed at retaining the potential benefits while reducing bureaucracy. The proposals include shortening the qualification process for the scheme, reducing the number of fuels covered by the scheme from
29 to four, and cutting the amount of reporting required, as well as the length of time for which records have to be kept.
The government says that the new procedures would also align CRC reporting with the greenhouse gas reporting process, to make it simpler for businesses and other organisations.
The proposed changes would come into force next April as the second phase of the scheme begins.
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