Zero Carbon Solar News: 8 March 2011
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has just published a new ‘Carbon Plan’ which set targets for the Government to meet their carbon / environmental obligations.
The Carbon Plan focuses on the jobs and economic benefits of the low carbon economy as well as on specific policies that aim to help insulate Britain from future energy price shocks, such as those which are happening today.
Right now the Carbon Plan is currently published as a draft: so it is still open to consultation and change. This is your chance to comment! A final Carbon Plan document for 2011-12 will be published this Autumn. It will then be updated every year.
The draft Carbon Plan highlights three key changes that will be required across the UK economy, including:
- in the way electricity is generated, where a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels and towards low carbon alternatives is needed including renewable energy, including solar photovoltaic power generation, new nuclear power (controversial) and fossil fuel power stations fitted with carbon capture and storage (also controversial and still not fully proven as a technology)
- in the way homes and businesses are heated, where a step change is needed in how well homes are insulated and away from gas boilers to low carbon alternatives, such as heat pumps (which will rely on a massively decarbonised electrical grid in order to be carbon-effective) and other technologies such as solar water heating systems.
- in the way people travel. While this means more public transport, also substituting the need for some journeys, the greatest change will be in road transport. The Carbon Plain aims at reducing emissions from petrol and diesel engines as well as moving towards alternative technologies such as electric vehicles.
The Draft Carbon Plan lists key actions for many UK Government departments. These include:
- HM Treasury to make new laws for a floor in the carbon price by April 2011
- DECC to award the contract for the first UK Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration by end of this year and identify further demonstration projects by May 2012
- Department for Business to get the Green Investment Bank up and running by September 2012 with the first annual data released on the funds in and size of investments made by the Bank by May 2013
- By June 2011, DF Transport to develop a nationwide strategy to promote the installation of electric vehicle infrastructure
- DECC to lead in reducing central governments emissions by 10% in twelve months with the deadline of May 2011
- By June 2012 Defra to launch a pilot project to develop and trial methods for delivering integrated environmental advice for farmers, including on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Will the new Carbon Plan help to save the planet? For more information, and a copy of the Draft Carbon Plan, please click here.
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