News: Supporting evidence and analysis from the Committee on Climate Change report, Building a low-carbon economy – the UK’s innovation challenge, has now been published and made available on their website.

Outline: To build a low carbon economy and meet carbon targets, the UK will needs new technologies. This requires public sector investment in all stages of the innovation process from Research, through Development and Demonstration to Deployment (RDD&D).

History: In October 2009, Professor Sir John Beddington, the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, asked the Committee to carry out a review of low carbon innovation in the UK. This report consider the effectiveness of current policy measures and institutional arrangements to deliver the technologies required to meet the UK’s 2050 carbon emissions target.

Its recommendations – are that the UK should:
- Develop and deploy offshore wind, marine, carbon capture and storage (CCS) for power generation, aviation technologies, smart grids, and electric vehicle technologies.
- Deploy nuclear power, advanced insulation materials, heat pumps and CCS for energy intensive industries (there may also be scope for UK participation in demonstration of industry CCS).
- Research and develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, technologies in agriculture and industry, 3rd generation solar PV technologies, energy storage and advanced biofuels technologies.

Reaction to the low carbon innovation report:

Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, said uncritically:

“This is an important report that has come at an important time.   We welcome the recognition of the need for continued and expanded funding for wise, focused and output-driven low carbon innovation.   Good innovation that leverages private sector investment, and focuses on UK benefit is a must.   It will deliver significant economic opportunity for the UK as well as helping us meet our short and long term carbon targets.”

Barry Johnston, Managing Director of Solartwin said more critically:

“This unbalanced report delivers specific support for two controversial areas of nuclear and “Carbon Capture and Storage. Electric-energy biased, its support for non-electric energy provision is flimsy even though heat is the main use of energy in homes. I had really hoped that the government would not pick winners for special treatment or bow to conservative industry pressures, but unfortunately it has done both. A better report would have offered wider support for safer and more environmentally sustainable innovation. Instead we will see accelerated roll-out of risky technologies, first into UK and then to the world. It is time that UK regained its place as the place in the world as a hothouse where clean innovation and invention really thrives.”