Pressure on the government to introduce a feed in tariff to promote installation of microgeneration renewable energy technologies stepped up a notch last night, after a backbench rebellion highlighted growing political support for the proposal.
More than 30 Labour MPs voted against the government in support of an amendment to the Energy Bill tabled by Alan Simpson MP that would have required the government to introduce a preferential tariff for households and businesses selling energy top the grid from smaller scale renewable energy installations such as solar panels and micro wind turbines.
The government had to whip Labour MPs to return from campaigning in their constituencies to vote against the measure and head off what represented the biggest back bench rebellion since Gordon Brown took office.
Simpson said that the rebellion would send an "important message" to Brown, as the government prepares to begin work on a consultation this summer on how the UK can meet EU targets to generate 15 per cent of its energy from renewable sources. Speaking last night, energy minister Malcolm Wicks promised that that consultation would include discussion of whether to introduce a feed in tariff.
"The UK renewables industry is heartened to have received such strong backing from MPs of all parties and from such an impressive array of organisations," said Philip Wolfe, chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association. " Obviously it is hugely disappointing that the government did not welcome the Clause, however we remain convinced of our case and intend to pursue this campaign even more vigorously in the Lords."
Advocates of feed in tariffs maintain that they represent the most cost effective means of promoting adoption of renewable energy technologies amongst home owners and businesses. The model has proved successful across much of Europe with the German government largely crediting the initiative for the creation of a clean technology sector that employs over 100,000 people and has resulted in the country generating over three times more energy from renewable sources than the UK.
The government has signalled it will consider introducing a German-style Feed-in Tariff to promote adoption of onsite renewables as part of a major new green energy consultation 20 Feb 2008
Industry groups call for introduction of feed-in tariff to support onsite renewables for homes and offices, but not at expense of existing incentives 03 Jun 2008Grants for microgeneration technologies at schools, charities and public sector bodies to increase, but much criticised limit on home owner grants remains 31 Mar 2008UK renewables industry urges government to emulate German feed in tariff approach that has now created quarter of a million jobs 09 Apr 2008Government accused of badly mishandling low carbon buildings programme leading to a collapse in the number of households applying for grants to install microrenewables 15 Feb 2008
Intelligent Energy ramps up funding for R&D and partnerships 04 Jul 2008Focus on energy savings through fuel efficiency for homes and public and commercial buildings 04 Jul 2008
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