Renew On Line (UK) 54

Extracts from NATTA's journal
Renew, issue 154 Mar-Apr2005

9. £80m for Innovation 

Launching an international G8 Roundtable discussion meeting last Nov. Prime Minister Tony Blair said: ‘Over the coming decades, a massive shift towards lower carbon energy systems will be needed if we are to meet the world’s growing energy needs whilst also avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. To achieve this, we will need a green technological revolution- but we are only just at the beginning of understanding how to bring this about.’

Not everyone is convinced by this rhetoric, but the government does seem to be putting some funds in the right direction.  For example, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt MP has allocated an extra  £80million for research and development into innovative technologies including ‘technologies that can help the sustainable development of new and renewable energy sources’ and ‘waste management and minimalisation’ projects. Trouble is, it’s also on offer for a range of ‘high tech options like nano technology which may win out.

It’s all part of the DTI’s recently announced 5-year programme ‘Creating Wealth from Knowledge’ with the DTI trying to become a ‘champion of science, innovation and technology’ Hewitt said: “We need to invest in these areas if we are to successfully compete in the global knowledge economy”.  She added “It is not about picking ‘winning companies’, it is about providing investment where there are clear gaps in the market. We want to kick-start research and development in these areas to ensure that the latest ideas and technologies can be turned into businesses, jobs and prosperity for Britain.”

New Renewables Bill 

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Redesdale has put together a Renewable Energy Bill which aims to facilitate the  microgeneration of electricity, defined as “the generation of low-carbon heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs”,  by simplifying the planning process for developments such as small private wind turbines. It would also require public electricity suppliers to buy surplus electricity generated by their customers back at the market rate and would set private renewable energy generation targets for every local authority. The Bill pre-empts the government’s own microgeneration strategy, which is due by Dec.  2005.