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2030 TARGETS EU sets Europe- wide 2030 renewables target
On 23-24 October, EU leaders met in Brussels to finalise the 2030 energy and climate change framework. The REA and colleagues pushed for a trio of binding targets for greenhouse gas savings, energy efficiency and renewable energy, each of at least 40% and distributed to Member State level. In the end, leaders agreed on a 40% greenhouse gas target and 27% targets for energy efficiency and renewables, with only the greenhouse gas target distributed to Member State level.
Disappointingly, the agreement
offers weaker stimulus for growth in renewables than the 2020 framework. However, there is nevertheless a clear role for UK renewables in achieving the UK greenhouse gas target and EU renewables target. The REA will push for renewables to be placed at the heart of the UK’s own plans for achieving these targets.
EU diplomats will now take the 2030 goals to the Paris UN climate change conference in December 2015, and hopefully secure a global deal setting all countries on a path to decarbonising their economies.
GEOTHERMAL Breaking down barriers to geothermal growth
In September, DECC confirmed changes to the way underground access rights are granted to make it easier for developers and communities to agree local benefit payments for underground energy extraction. While debate around these proposals focused on shale gas, they are just as important for geothermal. As we said in our consultation response, these measures “will remove a significant and disproportionately
www.r-e-a.net
high barrier to the development of deep geothermal projects.” Building on the support already available under the Renewable Heat Incentive, this change will help bring forward several deep geothermal heat projects. These include GT Energy’s Devonshire Street project in Manchester; a proposal in Bishop Auckland led by Auckland Castle Trust and advised by Cluff Geothermal; and local authority-led projects
Energy Secretary Ed Davey
in Stoke and Crewe. The first of these projects is expected to start drilling in 2015. Another boost came in October, when Geothermal Engineering completed a successful technology trial, producing Cornwall’s first geothermal energy in 25 years. Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: “This nascent sector could make a real contribution to renewable heat supply in the UK.”
WINTER 2014 | RENEWABLE ENERGY QUARTERLY | REQ 7
SOLAR FARMS
Solar farm policy changes will delay journey to zero subsidy
Ministers have moved to slow the growth of solar farms due to concerns over costs and public perception, despite the fact that solar is rapidly getting cheaper and is the public’s favourite energy technology! The REA strongly opposed
Energy Secretary Ed Davey’s proposals to remove large scale solar (5MW+) from the Renewables Obligation in April 2015, two years ahead of other technologies. In October DECC went ahead regardless, forcing large scale solar into the new Contracts for Difference scheme (see p. 10). Independent SMEs will find it difficult to shoulder the risk of the “all or nothing” CfD allocation process, limiting their ability to plan and invest for the future and delaying PV’s otherwise rapid trajectory to zero subsidy. Environment Secretary
Liz Truss also angered solar companies by saying that UK farmland is being “blighted by solar farms” and removing their Common Agricultural Payment subsidies. This is a case of “bark worse than bite” as these subsidies are only a minor
Ministers don’t understand solar’s amazing potenetial – yet!
financial driver of solar farms. Frustratingly, the Government refuses to recognise the potential for productive dual use of solar farms with livestock grazing or nature conservation schemes. The DCLG consultation on extending permitted
development rights to 1MW for commercial rooftop PV offers one crumb of comfort. The REA welcomes this move, which we would like to see extended to stand-alone PV, solar thermal, heat pumps and small scale wind power.
ED DAVEY PIC: ©
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