Nearly three quarters of people in Wales call for more ambitious green electricity scheme

26 January 2010

Nearly three quarters of people in Wales think that the UK Government's plans to pay households, businesses and communities for generating green electricity from renewable energy systems, such as solar panels and small hydro and wind turbines, are not ambitious enough, a new survey reveals today [1].

The UK Government is expected within the next few days to publish details of its feed-in tariff proposals [2] (or 'clean energy cash-back'), which aim to encourage homes, businesses and communities to install small-scale renewable energy systems by paying them a premium rate for all the green electricity they generate.

But local renewable energy champions Friends of the Earth, the Renewable Energy Association and the Co-operative Group say that the scheme, which has an overall ambition to supply just two per cent of UK electricity from small-scale renewable energy sources (up to 5MW) by 2020, should offer higher payments than those proposed and aim to deliver far more clean electricity.

A YouGov survey of more than 2,000 people across the UK conducted last week for Friends of the Earth, the Renewable Energy Association and the Cooperative Group strongly supports the call for a more ambitious feed-in tariff. The findings include:

• Once told that Government research shows the UK could supply up to a third of its electricity needs from smaller, local renewable energy systems, nearly three quarters (71%) of those questioned in Wales agreed that Government ambitions to supply two per cent of UK electricity from its feed-in tariff scheme are not ambitious enough [3].
• 69% said that they would be prepared to pay an extra 10 pence on their electricity bills each month (£1.20 annually), on top of the already proposed annual increase of £1.17, until 2013 when the scheme is due to be reviewed, to enable the Government to introduce a more ambitious scheme from the outset. This could put us on track to deliver three times more local green electricity in 2020 than currently planned [4].

Friends of the Earth Cymru's energy campaigner Neil Crumpton said:

"This poll shows that the Welsh public overwhelmingly wants the government to think big when it comes to small-scale renewable energy from sources such as the sun, wind and water.

"People want their homes, businesses and communities to be able to produce green clean energy - but bigger government incentives are needed to make this a reality.

"UK Ministers must listen and introduce an ambitious feed-in tariff scheme that would encourage millions of households, companies and communities across the UK to join the green energy revolution.

"This would help tackle climate change, create new jobs and businesses and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

"In Wales, higher payments would move us closer to the Welsh Assembly Government's admirable target of having 30,000 small-scale renewable energy units installed by 2012 and 300,000 by 2020 [1]. Such an expansion could make an important contribution to Wales' aim of generating all its electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

The Co-operative Group's Sustainable Development Manager Chris Shearlock said:

"As a business that has campaigned for strong climate change legislation, is taking action to reduce its own emissions and owns the UKs largest solar power project, we want to be able to use small-scale renewables on our stores and branches around the country.

"Without feed-in tariffs offering a greater level of return - along the lines available to larger renewables supported by the Renewables Obligation - this opportunity will be sadly lost."

REA Head of External Affairs Leonie Greene said:

"The public have given us an incredible show of support for renewable energy, even in the deepest recession for a generation.

"The involvement of everyday people and businesses can transform the UK's renewable energy industry and bring down technology costs - as is the case in other European countries.

"The new renewable electricity payment schemes that will be announced shortly should make it easier for everyone to invest - let's hope the Government delivers the ambitious scheme we clearly all want."

The poll also reveals overwhelming public support for greater investment in renewable energy to generate jobs, increase energy security and tackle climate change, even in the recession.

• 83 per cent of people questioned in Wales agreed that the UK should spend more money developing renewables to make us less dependent on importing gas [6].
• 79 per cent agreed that the government should invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency to boost an economic recovery, create tens of thousands of jobs, reduce our reliance on overseas fossil fuels and help tackle climate change even if this were at the expense of other plans [7].

NOTES

1. The Government agreed to introduce a feed-in tariff - or as the Government is calling it Clean Energy Cashback - in 2008 following a successful campaign by Friends of the Earth and the Renewable Energy Association. The scheme, which will pay homes, businesses and communities for all the green energy they generate from small scale renewable energy generators up to 5MW (equivalent to two large wind turbines) is due to start in April 2010.
   Draft tariff payments were published last year, and these are expected to be finalised in the next few days. But Friends of the Earth, and the Renewable Energy Association and the Cooperative Group say that the scheme lacks ambition and that higher payments are needed to ensure that significant numbers of people install small scale green energy systems and help the UK slash greenhouse gas emissions, create new green jobs and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
   See Friends of the Earth press release, 'Small-scale green energy schemes could generate more electricity than two nuclear power stations'.
   A feed-in tariffs briefing is available from Friends of the Earth.
   

2. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,130 adults, of which 93 were from Wales. Fieldwork was undertaken from 19 - 21 January 2010. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
   

3. Question: Government research shows that the UK could supply up to a third of its electricity needs from smaller, local renewable energy systems. The Government's feed-in tariff proposals aim to supply two per cent of UK electricity demand by 2020; at the moment, the amount supplied is negligible. Do you think the Government's plans are..?
   (replies from respondents in Wales)
   Not ambitious enough - 71 per cent
   About right - 11 per cent
   Too ambitious - 7 per cent
   Don't know - 11 per cent
   

4. Current feed-in tariff proposals are likely to add £1.17 to an annual electricity bill up to 2013, when the scheme will be reviewed.
   Would you be prepared to pay an extra 10 pence each month (£1.20 annually) on your electricity bill for the next three to four years (when the scheme will be reviewed), to enable the Government to introduce a more ambitious scheme that could lead to three times as much green electricity being generated by homes, businesses and communities by 2020 than currently planned?
   (replies from respondents in Wales)
   Yes I would - 69 per cent
   No, I wouldn't - 20 per cent
   Don't know - 7 per cent
   n/a - I am not in charge of paying my electricity bill - 4 per cent
   

5. The Welsh Assembly Government's 'Microgeneration Action Plan for Wales' sets targets of installing 30,000 units by 2012 and 300,000 by 2020. According to a report by 'Elementenergy' for the DBERR in 2008, there were just over 6,000 microgeneration units in Wales in 2007
   

6. Gas security has recently been in the news, with the Government estimating that by 2020, 80 per cent of our gas will come from overseas.
   To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
   The UK should spend money on developing its own renewable resources (which include renewable heat and renewable gas) to help make it less dependent on importing gas from other countries
   (replies from respondents in Wales)
   Strongly agree - 45 per cent
   Agree - 38 per cent
   Neither agree/ disagree - 9 per cent
   Disagree - 2 per cent
   Strongly disagree - none
   Don't know - 6 per cent
   

7. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
   The Government should strongly invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency to boost an economic recovery, create tens of thousands of new jobs, reduce our reliance on overseas fossil fuels and help tackle climate change, even if this were at the expense of other plans.
   (replies from respondents in Wales)
   Strongly agree - 45 per cent
   Agree - 34 per cent
   Neither agree/ disagree - 8 per cent
   Disagree - 2 per cent
   Strongly disagree - 5 per cent
   Don't know - 5 per cent

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577