Renewable industry responds to UK Autumn Statement, gas strategy

The UK Autumn Statement, which is a pre-budget report of economic forecasts, and the gas strategy released on 5 December 2012, elicited mixed responses from the renewable industry.

RenewableUK, the trade and professional body representing wind and marine energy, commended the government’s plans for resource allocation to propel growth, but noted that other technologies might be impacted with the government’s strategy to relook at new gas capacity in 2014, to increase it from 26GW to 37MW by 2030.

RenewableUK chief executive Maria McCaffery remarked that there is still a lack of clarity beyond the next five years.

"Despite tax breaks, the North Sea Oil & Gas sector continues to contract and the Autumn Statement acknowledges that energy prices remain a source of potential risk, so we would urge the Government to get behind the engine for growth that is renewable energy," McCaffery said.

The Solar Trade Association solar specialist Ray Noble said, "It is particularly disturbing to have this unconventional gas push announced as nations struggle to hammer out a desperately needed global agreement on preventing dangerous climate change."

UK business lobbying organization CBI commented that the UK must focus on diversified energy sources. It said, "Gas will have an important role to play as part of a secure, low-carbon power mix alongside renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage."

Scottish Renewables chief executive Niall Stuart stated, "The Government remains committed to 30 per cent of the country’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020. Today’s announcement is about where the rest of our power will come from."