• Labour Party’s proposals to address the energy crisis welcomed by the REA;
• The proposed renewable targets recognise the need to bring down energy bills and deliver energy security, but Labour must also go further to deliver a diverse and flexible energy system;
• Conservative Party urged to recommit to their own British Energy Security Strategy, as leadership candidates question the role of renewables;
• The REA stands ready to work alongside any Government to ensure these targets are delivered.

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has welcomed the Labour Party’s announcements, saying that the plans recognise the vital role of renewables in bringing down energy bills and delivering energy security.

If the targets are met, it will help address the underlying cause of the current energy crisis by helping the UK to get off imported fossil gas that is subject to volatile international markets. Equally, commitments to energy efficiency will also help to reduce demand and further protect consumers from higher bills.

The REA says that Labour now needs to set out what mechanism they would plan to see these targets delivered and how they will work with the renewable and clean technology sector to see deployment rapidly increased. In addition, it must be ensured that a diverse low carbon power system is delivered, including commitments to other low carbon technologies that are critical to energy security, including a range of bioenergy applications, deep geothermal energy and energy storage.

Today’s announcement from Labour, invites comparison to the Government’s own British Energy Security Strategy, published in April. This included similarly ambitious renewable energy targets. However, with current Prime Minister candidates seemingly questioning the role of renewables, the industry will be looking for the incoming Conservative administration to quickly recommit itself to their own strategy, which is not yet six months old.

The REA, its members, and the industry as a whole stand ready to work alongside any Government to ensure these targets are delivered.

Mark Sommerfeld, Head of Power and Flexibility at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said:

“The REA welcomes these targets, as they recognise the need for renewables to bring down energy bills and deliver energy security. Increasing the amount of home-grown low carbon power generation, while supporting energy efficiency measures, will remove the UK’s reliance on expensive imported fossil gas. In doing so it divorces energy bills from the primary factor behind the horrendous forecasted costs that will be faced by consumers and businesses this winter.

“Labour must now set out what mechanisms they would use to see these targets met. They must also go further to ensure the delivery of a diverse and flexible energy system, with commitments to other low carbon technologies crucial to energy security, including bioenergy, geothermal and energy storage.

“Labour’s announcements also bring into sharp contrast recent statements from the Conservative leadership candidates, who have questioned the role of renewables, even though they are the cheapest forms of generation. Despite being published only six months ago, the Government must recommit itself to its own ambitious renewable targets as set out in the British Energy Security Strategy.

“The REA, its members, and the industry as a whole stand ready to work alongside any Government to ensure these targets are delivered so that energy bills are taken under control.”

—ENDS—