Dale Vince comments on the government's Energy White Paper

26 February 2003

Dale Vince, Managing Director of Ecotricity, the UK's first green electricity company comments on the Energy White Paper:

"This is a great opportunity for the renewable industry to fill the energy gap and replace nuclear power. The acknowledgment by the Government that renewable energy needs to make a significant contribution to our energy needs in the future and the serious percentages quoted, are in itself an historical milestone for the industry. The move from targets to aspirations is a little disappointing, but it's just politics at the end of the day, the numbers themselves are the significant factor.

Replacing the 20% from nuclear within the next 20 years and providing 40% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2050 is a tall order and I do question whether the renewable industry can meet these aspirations. The important thing is the support we get from the Government to make these figures achievable.

Mr Blair admitted in his speech that climate change is a bigger threat than Saddam Hussein and he also conceded that climate change occurs over such a long time frame that politicians find it hard to deal with. However, the Government has set aside limitless funds - £3bn plus - to support the war, supposedly the smaller threat, and continues to prop up the cost of old nuclear setting aside £2bn to keep them running for the next ten years - just to maintain the status quo. By comparison, the whole of the renewable industry is being given a measly £60m in new money for the foreseeable future to achieve the high aspirations set by the White Paper. A large chunk of this money will be used to finance offshore wind energy which has huge potential but requires government subsidies, as it costs around 50% more than onshore to operate. It's worth reflecting that it cost this country £50 billion to build enough nuclear power to provide 20% of our electricity needs, yet the Government expects the renewable industry to generate 40% of our electricity needs with a tiny fraction of this amount. If the renewable industry was given £50 billion it would be able to power the whole of Europe with renewable energy ten times over!

The renewable energy technology which has the most to offer to meet the White Paper's demands is onshore wind energy. However, the White Paper failed to address the principal barrier to its development - planning. At the moment the majority of development applications fail to gain planning consent. Why? Because the decision lies in the hands of the local councils, who are often over-influenced by back yard issues. Regional targets are great in theory but the decision making needs to be put into the hands of the County Councils who are used to thinking strategically on such important issues. If the Government leaves the system as it stands these targets will be difficult to translate into action on the ground.

If the Government is serious about the renewable industry it needs to put its money where its mouth is so that it can't turn round in five years time and say that it gave renewables a shot but the industry couldn't deliver. Renewable energy needs to be given a real chance. If onshore wind energy is to deliver it needs a fair hearing at the planning stage or the huge aspirational targets just won't be met."