-
· Chancellor
makes Spring Statement in the House of Commons
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· Renewable
energy and clean tech sector reacts to Statement
In the Spring Statement the Chancellor announced:
- · A
Consultation later this year on increasing the proportion of
green gas in the grid with the aim of reducing natural gas
dependency in homes and businesses.
- · A Call
for Evidence on an Energy Efficiency Scheme for Small and Medium
Sized Businesses exploring how the Government can support
investment in energy efficiency measures.
- · As
part of the Industrial Strategy Grand Challenge the introduction
of a Future Homes Standard by 2025 to see fossil fuel heating
systems replaced with low carbon heating and energy efficiency
measures.
- · A Call
for Evidence on Offsetting Transport Emissions which will give
consumers the option to offset emissions from their journeys.
James Court Policy & External Affairs Director at the
Renewable Energy Association commented:
“It is encouraging to see the Chancellor reaffirm the
Government’s commitments to tackling climate change and
delivering clean growth, and that this is compatible with growing
the economy. The challenge of decarbonising our heating system
has acted as a barrier to both meeting legally binding climate
targets and further investment in renewables. While more
certainty is needed for the current dedicated renewable heat
scheme (the RHI), the introduction of a Future Homes Standard has
the potential to help remove some of the uncertainty surrounding
the path to decarbonising heat, ensuring a clear plan for clean
and cost-effective heating.
“The REA welcomes the Government’s proposals to aid smaller
businesses in reducing their energy and carbon emissions through
investment in energy efficiency. With SMEs making up the majority
of UK businesses, this has the potential to significantly
decrease carbon emissions and replace support cut at last year’s
Budget.
“Very welcome is the commitment to increase the proportion of
green gas in the grid. The Chancellor was right to state that
accelerating the decarbonisation of the gas grid is necessary if
climate targets are to be met. Although no definite proposals
were outlined, the acknowledgment of the need to green the gas
network is a promising start as this offers a low-cost way of
utilising existing infrastructure to decarbonise.”
