Power Generation

The UK Coalition Government has announced today that it plans to strengthen draft National Policy Statements (NPSs) for energy infrastructure, like new nuclear reactors and offshore wind farms.

“For large energy projects we need to give industry maximum certainty, so that if sound proposals come forward, they will not fall victim to unnecessary hold-ups,” says Minister of State for Energy Charles Hendry.

In a written statement for Parliament, Hendry says the Government will launch a “re-consultation” on draft energy NPSs this autumn – following the consultation undertaken by the previous administration earlier this year.

Final NPSs will then be presented to Parliament for agreement next spring. The Statements will include an implementation plan for a major reform of energy infrastructure with a timetable to follow in the summer.

Hendry’s statement adds that the new consultation will not delay plans for new nuclear reactors, the first of which should be on course to start generating power by 2018.

Meanwhile, Energy and Climate Secretary Chris Huhne has added his voice to those of Germany and France’s climate change ministers calling for Europe to increase its emissions reduction target to 30% by 2020.

In an article published simultaneously in the three countries, Huhne, Jean-Louis Borloo and Norbert Röttgen set out the economic benefits for increasing Europe’s climate change targets.

“The current 20% target is not sufficient to encourage companies to make the necessary investment in green technologies and green jobs,” says Huhne. “We’re determined to make the economic case for the EU to cut its emissions by 30% by 2020 as quickly as possible.”

The call backs the European Commission’s proposal earlier this year to up its target to 30%. In the wake of the recession, the region is almost half way to its 20% target by 2020 and would need only a small increase in investment to reach a more ambitious target.

The article is published today in the Financial Times, Le Monde and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, as well as the Department of Energy and Climate Change website.

For further information:
www.decc.gov.uk/
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/EU_CC_article/EU_CC_article.aspx

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UK’s ‘greenest government ever’ fails to deliver on Budget (23-Jun)
EU over half way to 20% cut in emissions by 2020 (7-Jun)
UK Government unveils energy and green economy bill (26-May)
European Commission proposes increasing emissions reduction target to 30% (13-May)