JAMES BEARD GIVES A ROUND-UP OF KEY POLICY ISSUES THIS QUARTER REQ
REA NEWS
EU outlines plans for circular economy
WASTE: A RENEWABLE RESOURCE A RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION
The European Commission published its circular economy framework in early July. By 2025, the Commission wants to achieve a 30% reduction in food waste and zero recyclable Commission wants to achieve a 70% municipal waste recycling rate, an 80% packaging waste recycling rate and a total ban There’s clearly an important
role for renewable technologies in pursuit of these targets, such as anaerobic digestion,
the various waste to energy technologies and composting. The UK Environmental Audit Committee published its report on the circular economy later the same month.
The REA submitted evidence to this enquiry, and our call for a ban on food waste being as one of the report’s central recommendations.
These are not just lofty green
ideals. The UK is still producing a infrastructure to realise its value
RENEWABLES IN NEW BUILD
One step forward, two steps back for Zero Carbon Homes
Joy quickly turned to bitterness for the new build renewables sector, as celebrations for the rescue of the Merton Rule gave way to condemnation of the Government’s new Allowable Solutions programme. The rescue of the Merton Rule, which enables local
authorities to set their own renewables in new homes, came in two stages. Firstly, lobbying by the REA, STA and others resulted in DCLG only formally legislating in March to end the not renewables. Then in June,
thanks to sustained lobbying Energy in Buildings campaign, the legislation changed again, so that the Merton Rule will live on until at least 2016, when the new Building Regulations come in. Success! However, following the
Building-integrated renewables can slash energy bills – but Government is rowing back on commitments to make new homes greener
Queen’s Speech in June, more details of the Zero Carbon Homes offset scheme, Allowable Solutions, were revealed. DCLG envisages a much greater role for offsets than originally intended, to the detriment of the new build renewables industry and the people paying the energy bills in these new homes. Plus there’s developers from Zero Carbon Homes altogether. The REA and colleagues have their work cut out to bring this policy back from the brink so it can achieve its original purpose of delivering cuts bills and emissions for the occupants.
6 REQ RENEWABLE ENERGY QUARTERLY | | AUTUMN 2014
domestically, we continue to The Green Investment Bank and a coalition of environmental trade bodies, including REA and the Environmental Services Association, have called on Government to put policy support in place for continued growth in the renewable technologies that can turn the looming waste treatment “capacity gap” into a sustainable resource opportunity, bringing forward more recycled products and clean energy.
RENEW A BLE ENER G Y VIEW
THE AUTHORITATIVE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE UK RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR
2014
REA ACTIVITY
REA launches REView and Finance Forum
publication REView, the annual assessment of the UK renewable energy market, was launched in April in Portcullis House. Energy Minister Greg Barker and Chair of the Energy Select Committee Tim Yeo both addressed the audience at the launch. The speakers welcomed the progress made to date on renewables, especially on electricity, and acknowledged the report’s central argument that stable policy is key for unlocking further progress, especially on heating and transport fuels. Greg Barker and Tim Yeo also joined us in June to celebrate the industry’s successes at the Ninth Annual British Renewable Energy Awards, which for the on London’s Strand – the 2013 ‘Green Hotel of the Year’. Greg Barker again took to the stage and welcomed the launch of our new Finance Forum, headed McGrigor. Greg Barker also seminar of the Finance Forum steering group in July, in what turned out to be one of his very last public engagements as Energy Minister before leaving
www.r-e-a.net
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