§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they still aim to achieve 10 per cent of the United Kingdom electricity supply from renewable energy sources by 2010; and, if so, by what factor renewable generating capacity will have to be increased from the current rate of installation. [HL5443]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleYes. The Government remain committed to the target of achieving 10 per cent of the United Kingdom's electricity supply from renewable sources by 2010. While this target is ambitious, we are doing all we can to achieve it.
The key instrument for delivering the target is the renewables obligation, which was introduced relatively recently, in April 2002. We are starting from a low base; in 2002, only 1.7 per cent of the UK's electricity was generated from renewable sources eligible for the renewables obligation.
224WATotal eligible renewables generating capacity in 2002 was 1,513 MW. The recent energy White Paper— Our energy future—creating a low carbon economy— estimated that to hit the 10 per cent target, we would need to install approximately 10,000 MW of renewables generation capacity by 2010. While this would require a steep change from the current rate of installation, the level of renewable energy projects receiving consent has risen encouragingly. Over 1,100 MW of renewable capacity has been given planning consent so far during 2003, and some of this capacity is at present under construction. In addition, the required build rate to meet the 2010 target is only just over half that achieved in Germany over recent years, and about the same as that achieved in Spain.