Energy Round-Up: is a 65% Renewables Target Achievable for Britian?

Last week Jeremy Corbyn pledged that under a future Labour government renewables would cover 65% of our electricity needs by 2030.

Is this achievable? There’s no reason why not.

Others in Europe are already close: renewables power more than 60% of Sweden’s electricity, and 52% of Portugal’s.

It’s true that some of Europe’s most renewable-friendly countries have hydroelectric resources unavailable in the UK, but not all. And besides, the UK’s geography gives us our own advantage: tidal energy, on the verge of taking off. 

Where Next for UK Renewable Energy Policy?

In November last year, former Decc secretary (and now home secretary) Amber Rudd said: “Frankly, if at all pos­sible, energy policy shouldn’t be noticed.” The comment came shortly after a con­troversial letter was leaked, where Rudd said it was difficult to know whether or not the UK would hit its 2020 renewable energy targets. So her comment could be read as her asking the public to pay less attention.

In early September 2016, the Energy and Climate Change committee con­cluded that, on its current course, the UK will fail to provide for 15% of its energy needs from renewable sources by the end of the decade. Many in the energy-from-waste (EfW) sector are still awaiting clarity from the Govern­ment on a number of policies.