Government seeks better renewables technologies

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks officially launched a “call for evidence” document that asks questions of, and encourages responses from, Uk firms on what renewable heat sources exist and how to “de-carbonise” heating systems.

Wicks said: "Heating our homes and businesses accounts for nearly half of the UK's energy demand and for almost half of our carbon dioxide emissions. Keeping warm at the same time as tackling global warming is a big challenge.

"We are looking for technical contributions and firm evidence of what the government needs to do to develop renewable heat such as biomass, heat pumps and biogas. Also advice on what role low-carbon electricity should play in heating and how surplus heat can be captured, transported and re-used to heat local buildings rather than going to waste.

He said that responses to this call will help the government develop policy to take to consultation this summer and set out firm plans to reach the UK's share of the European Union’s target of 20% of energy from renewables by 2020.

The call seeks advice on how existing technologies such as combined heat and power, renewable heat, heat from waste, and district heat could be further developed. It asks how surplus heat might be captured and what role there is for low-carbon electricity.

Advice is sought also on what new incentives are needed to stimulate development of renewable heat.

The document’s questions are meant to focus attention on chapter six of the Energy White Paper, published in May. Chapter six urges technological innovation in securing low-carbon renewable energy from sources such as wind, tides and waves. The need comes from recommendations in the 2006 Stern Review, by Nicholas Stern (The Economics of Climate Change).

Click the link at the bottom of this story for a pdf of the call for evidence on heat.

The deadline for evidence is 31 March.

Respondents may choose post or e-mail methods at:

heatevidence@berr.gsi.gov.uk

Heat Call for Evidence Coordinator

Energy Group

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)

Bay 210, 1 Victoria Street

London

SW1H 0ET

Tel: 020 7215 5000

The call for evidence is issued jointly by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).