Commenting on the announcement Dr Mark Williamson, Director, Innovations at the Carbon Trust said:
"The Carbon Trust welcomes the Government signing up to the bold 2020 vision for renewable energy. However, the key question is can we deliver this major ‘dash for renewables’ in less than twelve years and at the lowest cost to the consumer? Achieving this will require a scale of deployment, investment and political commitment never yet experienced for renewables. The clock is now ticking; a Marshall Plan for renewables is needed urgently to turn the 2020 vision into a commercial reality.
“Meeting a 15% energy target for renewables by 2020 will deliver deep cuts in our carbon emissions and put us on a clear path to hitting our overall 2050 targets. It will also be a giant step forward in enabling key technologies, like offshore wind and marine energy, to reach commercial maturity. The UK is in a strong position to accelerate the development of such renewables as we benefit from Europe’s largest wind, wave and tidal resources, as well as being home to extensive engineering expertise, particularly offshore. As well as significantly reducing carbon emissions, delivering on the 15% target will also provide increased energy security, replace decommissioning conventional generation, and offer major economic development opportunities for UK-based companies.”
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