UK Set to Meet 15% Rewable Energy Target by 2020

The European Union takes seriously its goal of creating a low carbon energy economy and is expected in an upcoming meeting in Brussels this coming Wednesday to ask the UK to meet a target of 15% of its energy production to come from renewable sources.

Overall, the EU target is for 20% of Europe’s energy needs to come from renewables. Some have argued for spreading that 20% target across all EU member nations, but since some members like Germany are already well along that path and others, like Great Britain, currently only get about 2% from renewables, specific targets are expected to vary among EU countries.

While considered an extremely challenging goal for the UK, it is “doable” according to Gordon Edge, head of offshore energy at the British Wind Energy Association, but only if “we really pull out all the stops”.

Most of that target is expected to come from electricity generation, primarily from offshore wind and solar. There are also potential plans to use “tidal barrage” across the River Severn, though there are some significant concerns about the environmental impact of such a project.

Sources and Further Reading
BBC News
Business Green
Tidal Power
British Wind Energy Association

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[ READER COMMENTS ]

1. 1

   Lauren said:

   This is definitely a good thing. I just wish the rest of the world would be this involved.

   Posted at 03:46 PM, on January 30 2008

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