FOREWORD
The UK currently gets 5% of its energy from a renewables industry that supports over 100,000 jobs and has secured over £30 billion of private investment since 2010. By 2020, we need to double the share of renewable electricity, more than double the share of renewable transport fuels, and more than quadruple the share of renewable heat to meet legally binding targets of 15% of our energy to come from renewable sources. Achieving these targets would require at least a further £65 billion of investment and could grow the industry to support 400,000 jobs.
The next year is a crucial year for the UK’s energy infrastructure, further laying the foundations for the energy market we will have by 2030. Yet, many of us in the industry, as well as in parliament, already have a clear idea of what 2030 should look like. What we are fighting for is how we can get there in the most cost-effective and transparent way.
The renewables industry needs a policy framework that will deliver long-term investor certainty and stable growth, and just as importantly, value for money and cost reductions as we gradually move towards a world without subsidy. Policy certainty was the highest priority amongst REA members when consulted for this manifesto, reducing the risks when developing technologies and projects, as well as the costs for financing and increasing economies of scale.
By 2030, we know that the way we generate our electricity is going to have to be considerably lower carbon. We have to stop burning coal, which generates 40% of our electricity today and is the single worst polluting fuel we use. Eventually we must also move away from gas (recognising its transitional role) – the current situation leaves us at the mercy of both global pricing and foreign governments.
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