The UK's renewable obligation - how will it affect us?

According to a study being conducted by the BERR, for the UK to reach it's renewable energy obligation as directed by the EU, a 10% reduction in fossil fuel consumption and a 12-16% reduction in gas imports will need to be reached by 2020.

The directive is calling for the UK to generate 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, with the EU as a whole generating 20%. This will require both massive investment as well as a tightening of the legislation when it comes to energy delivery and use.

With upwards of £10bn/annum expected investment into the renewables sector, it is estimated that by 2020 1 in 4 houses (7 million homes) in the UK will have solar thermal systems fitted; a further 1 million homes will have a heat pump system and around 2 million will have a biomass boiler providing heat to their home.

On a legislative level we can expect increased taxation on fossil fuel users, increased incentives for renewable energy users (in the form of subsidies and utility bill cash-back schemes) and a tightening of the building regulations with regard to new homes or replacement heating systems.

However, currently there are a number of barriers to the uptake of renewables including a poor understanding of what technologies exist, a lack of knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of these technologies vis a vis their application, supply chain issues of fuel (especially biomass) and insecurity about renewable fuel prices. Therefore careful consideration must be given to the various options available as its no longer the case of 'gas fits all'.

There has to be a focus on the education and training not just of architects, builders and engineers but also for individual householders if we are to achieve the renewable obligation in a sensible and thought-through manner.