Biofuels

PM Announces Step Change In Support For Renewable Energy

The Prime Minister has set out how the Government will spend the £100m million funding boost for renewable energy announced earlier this year.

As part of the Government's commitment to achieving 10% of the UK's electricity through renewables by 2010, Mr Blair announced the publication of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report into how to allocate the extra money.
The report recommends:

• £25m for offshore wind
  
• £15m to help farmers and foresters establish energy crops
  
• £10m dedicated to innovative PV schemes
  
• £10m for PV and other technologies that can be utilised directly on homes, businesses and community buildings.
  
• £10 million for fundamental research on the next generation of renewable energy technologies.
  
  In addition, the PIU report recommends:
  
  
• £5m for demonstration and testing of wave and tidal technologies, where UK research leads the world
  
• £4 million for advanced metering and control technologies so that electricity grids can best harvest PV and other small-scale technologies;
  and


• a further £18m to for the development and demonstration of advanced energy crop technologies for clean and efficient production of heat and electricity.

The Prime Minister said:

"I am determined that we will reach our target of meeting 10% of our electricity requirements from renewable sources by 2010. This money will help us reach that target by encouraging the delivering of capacity on the ground."

"And I also welcome the funding for solar, wave and tidal technologies, and on blue skies research, which have such a vital role to play in helping us meet our medium and long term renewable energy needs."

In March 2001 the Prime Minister announced a £100 million boost for the development of renewable energy in the UK. He asked the PIU to determine how the money will be spent. The PIU undertook a joint work programme with a number of key government departments, and the detailed analysis that underpins the allocation of the £100 million has been published and available at the Performance and Innovation website.
Links and further information: Department of Trade and Industry - Energy