Energy and climate change - Energy supply
The ability of the UK to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions is very closely linked to how we produce our energy. We need to not only control our demand for energy, but also change how energy is produced and supplied.
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) is the lead Department responsible for the Government's central Energy policy objective, which has been to ensure secure, diverse, and sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices, as set out in the Energy White Paper of May 2007.
Renewable energy
The Government's Climate Change and Energy policy is to continue moving towards using more sustainable energy and more efficient generation, for example by increasing our use of renewable energy. The UK played a key role in securing agreement among European Union Heads of Government in 2007 to a binding target of 20% of EU’s energy (electricity, heat and transport) to come from renewable sources by 2020, with the UK expected to have approximately 15% of its energy come from renewables in 2020. on 26 June 2008 BERR launched a consultation on how to do this, and what part energy efficiency can play in this process before we launch our Renewable Energy Strategy in 2009.
Heat
Almost half of all UK's CO2 emissions arise from the use of heat. That is energy used for space and water heating, industrial process heating, industrial drying and similar purposes. Therefore, if we are to deliver long-term reductions in carbon emissions we have to look at heat.
On 31 January 2008, we jointly published the Heat Call for Evidence with BERR, Communities and Local Government and the Office for Climate Change, which concluded on 31 March.
Results are currently being examined and will provide input to Government's forthcoming consultation on its Renewables Strategy and, later in the year, on its Heat Strategy. Results of the Heat Call for Evidence can be found at:
We plan to consult in the Autumn on our Heat Strategy which will focus on potential low-carbon solutions to decarbonising heating and cooling. The Heat Strategy will be published in the Spring of 2009 alongside the Government's Renewables Strategy.
Defra is responsible for the government’s policy for Biomass, Energy from Waste and also for CHP, including micro-CHP.
BERR deal with microgeneration of electricity more generally and you can find out more on the Government’s microgeneration strategy via their website.
- Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) website
- Combined heat and power (CHP)
- Energy White Paper
Biomass - Energy from Crops
Biomass energy sources have the potential to make a significant contribution to renewable energy and climate change targets. Bio-energy also has the potential to create and sustain jobs in rural areas.
Energy From Waste
Defra is responsible for the Government’s Energy from Waste policy. Our aim is to maximise energy recovered from unavoidable residual waste (that would otherwise go to landfill) so as to make the greatest contribution to energy policy. We also aim to promote greater energy recovery from food waste (via anaerobic digestion) and waste wood (via combustion) to capitalise on the potentially significant energy and carbon benefits.
Page last modified: 26 June 2008
Page published: 01 December, 2005