UK 2007 Energy White Paper

Written By Admin
Dated: June 25, 2007

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UK 2007 Energy White Paper

The UK 2007 Energy White Paper, which was released by the Department of Trade and Industries Secretary, Alistair Darling, on the 23rd of May, 2007, has implications of serious concern for both businesses and consumers in the UK.

The purpose of the UK 2007 Energy White Paper is to explain the government's position on the future of renewable and nuclear power energy, and to highlight the difficulties the government believes are already having a significant impact on what the future of UK renewable energy and nuclear power may look like.

The UK 2007 Energy White Paper centers around two primary issues the government is presently grappling with and seeking the best solutions for. Solutions to these issues that will be best for the overall future strength of the economic and business infrastructures of the UK as well as ensuring that UK renewable and nuclear power energy supplies will be able to effectively meet the demands placed on them in the future. And the best solutions for protecting the environment from continuing harmful environmental abuses that will permanently alter the way of living in the UK if something is not done and done very soon.

The government is seeking alternative solutions to the UK's increasing reliance on imported gas and oil to fulfill the demands for energy in the UK, the first of the two primary issues addressed by the UK 2007 Energy White Paper. Now the UK certainly is not alone in this as increased energy demands are forcing other countries from around the world to also seek supplies for energy from outside their own borders.

Due to this however, it can be clearly seen, as it was pointed out in the UK 2007 Energy White Paper, that if alternatives to an over reliance on imported fuels for energy are not found quickly, the available supply of energy will be close to depletion in as few as 15 years from now. UK businesses and consumers must work in conjunction with the governments' plans for finding alternative renewable and nuclear power energy supplies so that future UK energy supplies will be available, affordable, secure, and stable. Only by working together, can the supplies of UK renewable and nuclear power energy be preserved and safeguarded for future use.

The second of the primary issues addressed in the UK 2007 Energy White Paper, centers in on the environment and how environmental abuses such as carbon emissions are causing climatic changes and upper atmospheric imbalances that threaten the health and stability of the environment and its ability to sustain life properly, plant, animal, and human life.

The UK 2007 Energy White Paper points out the extreme importance of energy efficient commercial buildings and residential structures in the UK. An extension on the present Emissions Trading Scheme for Businesses according to the Renewable Energy Centre should be viewed as a move in the right direction for the future of UK energy supplies and for environmental conservation.

The newly birthed, UK Carbon Reduction Commitment, extends the scope of emissions control outwards from industrial plants to now also include larger UK industries such as banks, hotels, and supermarkets. The government hopes to raise renewable shares to 10 percent by the year 2010 and to 20 percent by the year 2020 through these efforts.

UK energy companies are also charged with behaving in a more environmentally accountable way. The Renewables Obligation Agreement stipulates that power supply providers have to purchase specific portions of their energy supply, presently 7.9 percent, from renewable energy resources each year. This yearly percentage of required energy supply purchasing from renewable energies is projected to climb to 10.4 percent by the year 2010.

The Renewable Energy Centre itself favors recommended reform on the present Renewables Obligation. The recommended reforms would offer incentives for investing in capitol rich and growing technology to create a wider range for the development of renewable energy sources Individual energy sources would also be banded and allowed Renewables Obligations certificates accordingly. This would mean partial, one full certificate, or additional Renewables Obligation certificates will be awarded according to the MWB of electricity generated by each individual energy source.

The Renewable Energy Centre has expressed its disappointment over the scarcity of grants and subsidies for improvements made available to those choosing micro-generation for use in their homes. They implore the government to provide for more funding at the local level so that owners of homes with zero carbon emissions would be entitled to large deductions from Council taxes or even exemption from Stamp Duty. The Renewable Energy Centre offers that the UK 2007 Energy White Paper is a fine example of noble intentions for future UK renewable and nuclear power energy supplies, and protections for the environment, with little in the way of encouraging widespread participation by businesses and consumers. It is believed that all the resources needed are present however; more encouragement is needed to engage UK businesses and consumers in the development of strong, stable, and affordable UK energy sources for the future.

As mentioned in the UK 2007 Energy White Paper, the majority of nuclear power stations are scheduled for closing within the next twenty years, even as the demand for more energy increases because of the increased economic growth forecast for the UK during the same time frame. The UK 2007 Energy White Paper surmises that it would be in everyone's best interest if energy companies would invest more in nuclear power energy now while there is still a chance to harness reserves of this energy supply. A forum to discuss and receive input from the public on nuclear power stations will continue until October of this year.

The UK 2007 Energy White Paper seeks to explain the government's position and the recommended directions that the UK should move in to protect and ensure the availability of renewable and nuclear power energy to meet future energy demands in the UK. It also explains what must be done to protect our environment from further environmental abuses and the risks of irreversible damage that carries serious implications for us all.