Climate Committee urges Huhne to end renewables uncertainty

The independent Committee on Climate Change will today fire its first shot across the bows of the government, with the release of a letter to Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne urging him to retain the UK's renewable energy targets and urgently clarify aspects of the coalition's low carbon energy policy.

The letter from the committee's chairman, Lord Adair Turner, recommends that the government neither increase nor decrease the UK target for generating 15 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.

However, it warns that a "step change" is needed in the rate of renewable energy deployment if the target is to be met and advises that there are "a number of key risks that should now be addressed by the Government in order that the share of renewable energy can be increased rapidly".

"The current target is desirable, but there are significant risks around achieving it," said David Kennedy, chief executive of the committee on climate change. "We do not see any merit in raising this target further. Instead, Government should focus its efforts on meeting the current target, in particular by providing the right incentives to encourage investment in renewable energy projects in the UK."

Echoing recent complaints from the CBI and various renewable energy groups, the letter calls on the government to provide greater clarity about the future of numerous low carbon energy policies.

In particular, it argues the coalition finalise regulatory arrangements for offshore wind grid connections; ensure that planning reforms do not lead to further delays for renewable energy projects; resolve "current uncertainties" over the future of renewable energy subsidies; and reach a decision on whether the public sector should provide financial support for the offshore wind sector, potentially through a Green Investment Bank.

It also urges Huhne to resolve uncertainties over the future of the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, which has been the subject of speculation that it may be cut in the up-coming spending review.

In addition, it controversially recommends that the government downgrade its target for renewable fuels from 10 per cent of all fuels by 2020 to eight per cent.

"The Gallagher Review suggested that a target of around eight per cent biofuels in 2020 is sustainable," the letter states. "However, the current transport target in the 2009 Renewable Energy Strategy is to achieve 10 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020, which is likely to be met primarily through the use of biofuels. This target should be lowered unless new evidence shows that it can be achieved sustainably."

Mike Childs, head of climate change at Friends of the Earth, welcomed the letter and called on Huhne to act quickly upon its recommendations.

"Every month's delay means more carbon pollution - and gives a head start to China and others to lead the development of the low carbon industries of the future with the jobs and economic benefits that this brings," he said. "Chris Huhne must immediate confirm that the renewable heat incentive is going ahead, remove barriers to rapid growth in offshore wind and use the forthcoming energy bill to introduce an ambitious programme of home energy efficiency."