NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Energy policy of the United Kingdom

The Energy policy of the United Kingdom is a set of official publications and activities directed at the present and future production, transmission and use of various power technologies within the UK. Historically a country emphasizing its coal, nuclear and off-shore natural gas production, the United Kingdom is in transition to become a net energy importer. Its national policies are articulated in a series of recent documents centering on the 2003 Energy White Paper^[1]; moreover, these policies contain statistics on primary energy sources, end uses and plans for future guidance. At the core of the UK policy is adherence to the Kyoto Protocol, including specific goals for timed phase down of carbon dioxide emissions. Image File history File links UKEnergyGraphic. ... For Government policy, see Energy policy of the United Kingdom Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom has been receiving increased attention over recent years. ... Nuclear power plants in United Kingdom (view) Active plants Closed plants As of 2006, the United Kingdom operates 24 nuclear reactors generating one-fifth of its electricity (19. ... As of 2007, solar power in the United Kingdom (photovoltaic electricity generation) is relatively commercially unattractive due to the moderate level of insolation, cheap grid electricity (compared to other European countries), and low financial incentives from government. ... Wind power in the United Kingdom passed the milestone of 2 GW installed capacity on 9 February 2007, equivalent to two coal fired power stations, with the opening of the Braes ODoune wind farm, near Stirling. ... Domestic housing in the United Kingdom is currently one of the major obstacles to achieving the 20% overall cut in UK carbon emissions targeted by the Government for 2010. ... The United Kingdoms Climate Change Programme was launched in November 2000 by the British government in response to its commitment agreed at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). ... For Government policy, see Energy policy of the United Kingdom Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom has been receiving increased attention over recent years. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... This article is about applications of nuclear fission reactors as power sources. ... Offshore has three principal meanings: Physical - in the sea away from the shore; not on the shoreline but out to sea. ... This article is about the fossil fuel. ... Energy development is the ongoing effort to provide abundant and accessible energy through knowledge, skills, and constructions. ... Kyoto Protocol Opened for signature December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Entered into force February 16, 2005. ... This is a list of countries by carbon dioxide emissions. ...

Overview

Under the Conservatives during the 1980s and 1990s, Government policy was one of market liberalisation linked to the privatisation of state controlled energy companies. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is currently the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest political party in the United Kingdom. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... In general, liberalization refers to a relaxation of previous government restrictions, usually in areas of social or economic policy. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

As a consequence, Government no longer has the ability to directly control the energy markets. Regulation is now carried out through the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM), while energy policy is largely limited to influencing the operation of the market. Such influence is exerted through taxation (such as North Sea Oil Tax [1]), subsidy (such as the Renewables Obligation), incentives, planning controls, market entry restrictions (for example the costs associated with connecting to the National Grid), the underwriting of liabilities (such as those carried by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority), grants, and funding for research. The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), working for the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA), is the government regulator for the electricity and downstream natural gas markets in Great Britain. ... The United Kingdoms Climate Change Programme was launched in November 2000 by the British government in response to its commitment agreed at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). ... The National Grid is the high-voltage electric power transmission network in Great Britain, connecting power stations and major substations and ensuring that electricity generated anywhere in Great Britain can be used to satisfy demand elsewhere. ... The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is a public body of the United Kingdom formed by the Energy Act, 2004. ...

An accomplishment of this liberalisation and privatisation has been a marked decrease in energy intensity, the measure of energy consumed per unit of GDP output. Another achievement has been substantial reduction of the population in energy poverty. A third goal attained has been continuing its tradition of energy supply reliability (measured as distribution and delivery on the electric and natural gas grids); among European countries, the United Kingdom is second only to the Netherlands in reliability features. Energy intensity is a measure of the energy efficiency of a nations economy. ... A fuel poor household is one which cannot afford to keep adequately warm at reasonable cost. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Primary energy sources

Historically a country emphasizing its coal, nuclear and off-shore natural gas production, the United Kingdom is currently in transition to become a net energy importer. Image File history File links DounreayJM.jpg Summary Taken and donated by John Mullen www. ... Image File history File links DounreayJM.jpg Summary Taken and donated by John Mullen www. ... Dounreay (Ordnance Survey Grid reference NC982669) is the name of a now ruinous castle on the north coast of Caithness, in the Highland area of Scotland. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... This article is about applications of nuclear fission reactors as power sources. ... Offshore has two principle meanings: Physical - in the sea away from the shore; not on the shoreline but out to sea. ... This article is about the fossil fuel. ...

In the year 2005 the percentage of primary energy derived from major sources was as follows: Primary energy is energy contained in raw fuels and any other forms of energy received by a system as input to the system. ...

This article is about the fossil fuel. ... Synthetic motor oil For other uses, see Oil (disambiguation). ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... This article is about applications of nuclear fission reactors as power sources. ... Renewable energy (sources) or RES capture their energy from existing flows of energy, from on-going natural processes, such as sunshine, wind, flowing water, biological processes, and geothermal heat flows. ...

Coal

Coal usage can be expected to decline steadily because of eroding cost advantages and pressure to reduce sulphur and carbon (carbon dioxide) emissions, notwithstanding ongoing subsidy policies designed to retain jobs in the coal mining industry. For the chemical element see: sulfur. ... Surface coal mining in Wyoming. ...

The 2002 Energy Review concluded that the option of new investment in clean coal technology (through carbon sequestration) needed to be kept open, and that practical measures should be taken to do this [2]. Carbon sequestration from a fossil-fuel power station A carbon dioxide sink or CO2 sink is a carbon reservoir that is increasing in size, and is the opposite of a carbon source. The main sinks are the oceans and growing vegetation. ...

Gas

The major expansion of energy supply is planned to be natural gas. While domestic production from the North Sea gas fields continues to lessen, approximately ten billion pounds sterling is being invested (mostly from the private sector) to enhance pipelines and storage of imported natural gas, most of which will derive from Norway. By the year 2021 North Sea oil and natural gas production is predicted to slip 75 percent from 2005 levels to less than one million barrels per day. Oil and coal reserves for all of Europe are among the most tenuous in the developed world. For example Europe's reserves to annual consumption ratio stands at 3.0^[2], perilously low by world standards. This article is about the fossil fuel. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... The private sector of a nations economy consists of all that is outside the state. ...

Nuclear Power

Nuclear generation is presently expected to decline with phase-out of older fission plants, so that about half of the nuclear power production will be lost within 10 to 15 years. Some analyses are underway which may delay the decline.

For details of Government policy on nuclear power see Nuclear power in the United Kingdom Nuclear power plants in United Kingdom (view) Active plants Closed plants As of 2006, the United Kingdom operates 24 nuclear reactors generating one-fifth of its electricity (19. ...

Renewables

The UK Government's goal for renewable energy production is to produce 20% of electricity in the UK by the year 2020. The 2002 Energy Review [3] set a target of 10% to be in place by 2010/2011. The target was increased 15% by 2015 and most recently the 2006 Energy Review further set a target of 20% by 2020. However, a November 2005 poll, conducted by YouGov for Deloitte, indicated that 35% of the population expect that the majority of electricity generation will come from renewable energy by the same date.^[3] Renewable energy effectively utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. ... YouGov is a British internet-based market research firm. ... Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is one of the Big Four auditors. ...

For Scotland, the Scottish Executive has a target of generating 17% to 18% of electricity from renewables by 2010 [4], rising to 40% by 2020 [5]. Renewables located in Scotland count towards both the Scottish target and to the overall target for the UK. This article is about the country. ... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ... 2020 (MMXX) will be a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Energy end usage

Year 2005 UK end use energy percentage is approximately: For Government policy, see Energy policy of the United Kingdom Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom has been receiving increased attention over recent years. ...

There is a steady increase of fuel usage driven by an increasingly affluent and mobile population, so that fuel use increased by ten percent in the decade ending 2000. This trend is expected to be mitigated by increased percentage of hybrid vehicles. Space heating is the heating of a space, usually enclosed, such as a house or room. ... A trio of propane water heaters. ... Not to be confused with lightning. ... For other types of Hybrid Transportation, see Hybrid (disambiguation)#Transportation. ...

United Kingdom space and hot water heating consume a disproportionate share of end use compared to the USA and more mild southern European or tropical climates. With regard to building and planning issues affecting energy use, the UK has developed guidance documents to promote energy conservation through local councils, especially as set forth in Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and power)[6]. The associated document. Part 2B, addresses commercial uses, and is generally complete as to heating issues; the guidance is lacking on lighting issues, except with guidelines for local switching of lighting controls. In particular there are no standards set forth for illumination levels, and over-illumination is one of the most significant unneeded costs of commercial energy use. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... For the physical concepts, see conservation of energy and energy efficiency. ... This cosmetics store has lighting levels over twice recommended levels and sufficient to trigger headaches and other health effects Over-illumination is the presence of lighting intensity (illuminance) beyond that required for a specified activity. ...

Carbon emissions reduction

Joining over 170 other nations the UK has committed to reduction^[4] of carbon dioxide emissions, with consequent constraints to its energy policy. The UK produces four percent of the world’s greenhouse gases as of 2003, compared to 23 percent by the USA^[5] and 20 percent for the rest of Europe. The long term reduction goal for carbon emissions is 50 percent decrease by the year 2050. A scheme of trading for carbon emission credits has been developed in Europe that will allow some of the reduction to arise from economic transactions. Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. ... Energy policy is the manner a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption. ... Top: Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels as measured in the atmosphere and ice cores. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... 2050 (MML) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Emissions trading is a proposed economic solution to air pollution. ...

Road transport emissions reduction has been stimulated since 1999 by the banding of Vehicle Excise Duty according to vehicle fuel efficiency. A UK vehicle licence (tax disc) In the United Kingdom, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) (often known as road tax, although it is not hypothecated for spending on roads, and before 1936 as road fund licence) is an annual tax on the use of motor vehicles on the public roads. ...

Average carbon emissions fell from 192 to 172 grams/mile between 1995 and 2004^{[citation needed]}. Aviation fuel is not regulated under the Kyoto Protocol, so that if the UK is successful in carbon emission reduction, aviation will constitute 25 percent of UK generated greenhouse gases by the year 2030. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An aviation fuel truck. ... Kyoto Protocol Opened for signature December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Entered into force February 16, 2005. ... Aviation encompasses all the activities relating to airborne devices created by human ingenuity, generally known as aircraft. ... Top: Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels as measured in the atmosphere and ice cores. ... 2030 (MMXXX) will be a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The UK government has one project in the planning stage for natural gas fed power generation with carbon capture by seawater. This facility is contemplated at Peterhead, Scotland, a relatively remote exposure to the North Sea. , There is also a suburb of Adelaide named Peterhead, South Australia Peterhead called Ceann Phadraig in Gaelic is a town in Scotland with a population of approximately 18,000. ... This article is about the country. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...

Climate Change Bill

On March 13, 2007, a draft Climate Change Bill was published following cross-party pressure over several years, led by environmental groups. The Bill aims to put in place a framework to achieve a mandatory 60% cut in the UK's carbon emissions by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels), with an intermediate target of between 26% and 32% by 2020.^[6] If approved, the United Kingdom is likely to become the first country to set such a long-range and significant carbon reduction target into law. Global carbon dioxide emissions 1800â€“2000 Countries by carbon dioxide emissions (red the highest) IMF 2005 figures of total GDP of nominal compared to PPP. Absolute, not adjusted for population. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Global carbon dioxide emissions 1800â€“2000 Countries by carbon dioxide emissions (red the highest) IMF 2005 figures of total GDP of nominal compared to PPP. Absolute, not adjusted for population. ... Top: Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels as measured in the atmosphere and ice cores. ... 2050 (MML) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2020 (MMXX) will be a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Renewable energy

Although renewable energy sources have not played a major role in the UK historically, there is potential for significant use of tidal power and wind energy (both on-shore and off-shore) as recognized by formal UK policies, including the Energy White Paper and directives to councils[7] in the form of PPS 22. The Renewables Obligation acts as the central mechanism for support of renewable sources of electricity in the UK, and should provide subsidies approaching one billion pounds sterling per annum by 2010. A number of other grants and smaller support mechanisms aim to support less established renewables. In addition, renewables have been exempted from the Climate Change Levy that affects all other energy sources. Renewable energy effectively utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. ... Tidal energy, sometimes called tidal power, is a form of hydropower that exploits the movement of water caused by tidal currents or the rise and fall in sea levels due to the tides. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Offshore wind farms The UK has been estimated to have over a third of Europes total offshore wind resource, which is equivalent to three times the electricity needs of the nation at current rates of electricity consumption. ... The Renewables Obligation (RO)[1] is designed to incentivise the generation of electricity from eligible renewable sources in the United Kingdom. ... For details of notes and coins, see British coinage and British banknotes. ... The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is a tax on energy delivered to non-domestic users in the United Kingdom. ...

The established goals for UK renewable sources are ten percent of electricity generation by 2010 and twenty percent by 2020. The amount of renewable generation added in the year 2004 was 250 megawatts and 500 megawatts in 2005. There is also a program established for micro-generation (less than 50 KWe (kilowatt electrical) or 45 KWt (kilowatt thermal) from a low carbon source ^[7]) as well as a solar voltaic program. By comparison both Germany and Japan have photovoltaic (solar cell) programs much larger than the installed base in the UK. Hydroelectric energy is not a viable option for most of the UK due to terrain and lack of force of rivers. The megawatt (symbol: MW) is a unit for measuring power corresponding to one million (106) watts. ... Microgeneration is the generation of zero or low-carbon heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs. ... A solar cell, made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy. ... Upper Volta (French Haute-Volta) was the name of the African country now called Burkina Faso until August 4, 1984. ... Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... For other uses, see River (disambiguation). ...

The government has established a goal of five percent of the total transport fuel that must be from renewable sources (e.g. ethanol, biofuel) by the year 2010 under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. This goal may be ambitious, without the necessary infrastructure and paucity of research on appropriate UK crops, but import from France might be a realistic option (based upon the French wine lake). For other uses, see Fuel (disambiguation). ... Petrol and alcohol fuel pumps in Brazil. ... The wine lake refers to the continuing surplus of wine over demand (glut) produced in the European Union. ...

In 2005 British Sugar announced that it will build the UK's first ethanol biofuel production facility, using British grown sugar beet as the feed stock. The plant in Norfolk will produce 55,000 metric tonnes of ethanol annually when it is completed in the first quarter of 2007[8]. However it has been argued that even using all the UK's set-aside land to grow biofuel crops would provide for less than seven percent of the UK's present transport fuel usage[9]. In 1936 the United Kingdom parliament nationalised the entire UK sugar beet crop processing industry to form the British Sugar Corporation. ... Grain alcohol redirects here. ... For articles on specific fuels used in vehicles, see Biogas, Bioethanol, Biobutanol, Biodiesel, and Straight vegetable oil. ... Two sugar beets - the one on the left has been cultivated to be smoother than the traditional beet, so that it traps less soil. ... Norfolk (IPA: //) is a low-lying county in East Anglia in the east of southern England. ... A ton(ne) (symbol t) is a unit of mass. ... Set-Aside in the EU, will be updated as i update my IPM from another editor (i also am doing an ipm and shall add it on here) 1. ...

Energy poverty

Reducing occurrence of energy poverty (defined as households paying over ten percent of income for heating costs) is one of the four basic goals of UK energy policy. In the prior decade substantial progress has been made on this goal, but primarily due to government subsidies to the poor rather than through fundamental change of home design or improved energy pricing.. The following national programs have been specifically instrumental in such progress: Winter Fuel Payment, Child Tax Credit and Pension Credit. Some benefits have resulted from the Warm Front Scheme in England, the Central Heating Program in Scotland and the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in Wales. These latter programs provide economic incentives for physical improvement in insulation, etc. A fuel poor household is one which cannot afford to keep adequately warm at reasonable cost. ... The household is the basic unit of analysis in many microeconomic and government models. ... A child tax credit is a tax credit based on the number of dependent children in a family. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... This article is about the country. ... Common insulation applications inside an apartment building in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. ...

2007 Energy White Paper

The 2007 Energy White Paper: Meeting the Energy Challenge^[8] was published on May 23, 2007. It followed a judicial review requested by Greenpeace that ruled that elements of the 2006 Energy Review were ruled 'seriously flawed', and 'not merely inadequate but also misleading'. Judicial review is the power of a court to review the actions of public sector bodies in terms of their legality or constitutionality. ... Greenpeace protest against Esso / Exxon Mobil. ... For energy use in practice, see Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom The Energy policy of the United Kingdom is a set of official publications and activities directed at the present and future production, transmission and use of various power technologies within the UK. Historically a country emphasizing...

The 2007 White Paper outlines the Government’s international and domestic strategy for responding to two main challenges:^[8]

It seeks to do this in a way that is consistent with its four energy policy goals:^[8] Top: Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels as measured in the atmosphere and ice cores. ... Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earths near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. ... // North Sea Oil Platforms North Sea oil refers to oil and natural gas (hydrocarbons) produced from oil reservoirs beneath the North Sea. ...

The paper anticipates that it will be necessary to install 30-35 GW of new electricity generation capacity within 20 years to plug the energy gap resulting from increased demand and the expected closure of existing power plants. It also states that, based on existing policies, renewable energy is likely to contribute around 5% of the UK’s consumption by 2020,^[8] rather than the 20% target mentioned in the 2006 Energy Review. The gigawatt (symbol: GW) is a unit for measuring power corresponding to one billion (109) watts. ... World-wide electricity production for 1980 to 2005. ...

Government strategy

To achieve the government's aims, the White Paper proposes a number of practical measures, including:^[8] Global carbon dioxide emissions 1800â€“2000 Global average surface temperature 1850 to 2006 Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change: A Scientific Symposium on Stabilisation of Greenhouse Gases was a 2005 international conference that redefined the link between atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration, and the 2Â°C (3. ... The European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is the largest multi-national, greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world. ... Global carbon dioxide emissions 1800â€“2000 Countries by carbon dioxide emissions (red the highest) IMF 2005 figures of total GDP of nominal compared to PPP. Absolute, not adjusted for population. ... For the physical concepts, see conservation of energy and energy efficiency. ... The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is an energy research and development institute planned to begin operating in the United Kingdom in 2008. ...

Energy conservation

Homes: Emissions trading is a proposed economic solution to air pollution. ... The megawatt-hour (symbol: MWh) is a unit for measuring energy. ... The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a proposed mandatory cap and trade scheme in the United Kingdom that will apply to large non energy-intensive organisations in the public and private sectors. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A Smart meter generally refers to a type of advanced meter (usually an electrical meter) that identifies consumption in more detail than a conventional meter, and optionally communicates that information via some network back to the local utility for monitoring and billing purposes. ...

Transport: BedZED zero energy housing in the UK A zero energy building (ZEB) or net zero energy building is a general term applied to a building with a net energy consumption of zero over a typical year. ... 2016 (MMXVI) will be a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Consumer electronics is a term used to describe the category of electronic equipment intended for everyday use by people, the consumers. ... A major appliance is a large machine which accomplishes some routine housekeeping task, which includes purposes such as cooking, food preservation, or cleaning, whether in a household, institutional, commercial or industrial setting. ... Light bulb redirects here. ... The Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) in the United Kingdom (formerly the Energy Efficiency Commitment) is a target imposed on the gas and electricity transporters and suppliers under Section 33BC of the Gas Act 1986 and Section 41A of the Electricity Act 1989, as modified by the Climate Change and... Typical US domestic electricity meter An electric meter or energy meter is a device that measures the amount of electrical energy supplied to a residence or business. ... It has been suggested that Real-time computing be merged into this article or section. ...

Energy supply

See biomass (ecology) for the use of the term in ecology, where it refers to the cumulation of living matter Switchgrass, a tough plant used in the biofuel industry in the United States Rice chaff. ... Distributed generation generates electricity from many small energy sources. ... The Renewables Obligation (RO)[1] is designed to incentivise the generation of electricity from eligible renewable sources in the United Kingdom. ... Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an approach to mitigating global warming by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources such as power plants and subsequently storing it instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. ... Nuclear power plants in United Kingdom (view) Active plants Closed plants As of 2006, the United Kingdom operates 24 nuclear reactors generating one-fifth of its electricity (19. ... Petrol and alcohol fuel pumps in Brazil. ... For articles on specific fuels used in vehicles, see Biogas, Bioethanol, Biobutanol, Biodiesel, and Straight vegetable oil. ... Main article: Town and Country Planning in the United Kingdom Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. ...

2006 Energy Review

Status

Following a judicial review requested by Greenpeace, on February 15, 2007 elements of the 2006 Energy Review were ruled 'seriously flawed', and 'not merely inadequate but also misleading'. As a result, plans to build a new generation of nuclear power plants were ruled illegal. See Nuclear power in the United Kingdom for details. Judicial review is the power of a court to review the actions of public sector bodies in terms of their legality or constitutionality. ... Greenpeace protest against Esso / Exxon Mobil. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... A nuclear power station. ... Nuclear power plants in United Kingdom (view) Active plants Closed plants As of 2006, the United Kingdom operates 24 nuclear reactors generating one-fifth of its electricity (19. ...

Background

The UK Government published its White Paper on Energy (“Our Energy Future – creating a Low Carbon Economy”) in 2003, establishing a formal energy policy for the UK for the first time in 20 years. Essentially, the White Paper recognised that a limitation of carbon dioxide (CO2 – the main gas contributing to global climate change) was going to be necessary. It committed the UK to working towards a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, and identified business opportunities in so doing: a recurrent theme throughout the document was “cleaner, smarter energy”. It also claimed to be based on four pillars: the environment, energy reliability, affordable energy for the poorest and competitive markets. Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. ... The term climate change is used to refer to changes in the Earths climate. ...

However the White Paper focused more on analysing the issues than in providing detailed policy responses. Some detail began to filter through in a series of follow-on documents, including an Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan (April 2004) and the DTI Microgeneration Strategy "Our Energy Challenge" (March 2006). Nonetheless, most of the policies were a continuation of business as usual, with emphasis on market-led solutions and an expectation that consumers act rationally, for example in installing energy efficiency measures to make running cost savings.

However, in November 2005 it was announced that the Government, under DTI leadership, would undertake a full scale Energy Review, and over 500 organisations and individuals made detailed submissions as part of this review. Officially, the review was to take stock of the outcomes to date of the White Paper, which a particular focus on cutting carbon (emissions of which remained stubbornly high) and to look in more detail at security of supply, as the UK’s oil and gas production from the North Sea had peaked, and Russia was seen as being a high-risk supplier of gas. The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...

Unofficially, it was widely felt that the real reason behind the review was to allow nuclear power back into the energy debate, as it had been sidelined in the 2003 White Paper. That document had said “This white paper does not contain specific proposals for building new nuclear power stations. However we do not rule out the possibility that at some point in the future new nuclear build might be necessary if we are to meet our carbon targets. Before any decision to proceed with the building of new nuclear power stations, there will need to be the fullest public consultation and the publication of a further white paper setting out our proposals.” The Energy Review was therefore to be this public consultation. A further White Paper was promised for early 2007. This article is about applications of nuclear fission reactors as power sources. ...

In the event, the Energy Review Report 2006 came out as a broader and more balanced document than critics (in advance) had expected. It started by reiterating the Government’s four long-term goals for energy policy:

It then identified two major long-term energy challenges: This is a list of countries by carbon dioxide emissions. ... 2050 (MML) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2020 (MMXX) will be a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Review took an internationalist response, stressing that the world’s economies need to get on a path to being significantly less carbon-intensive, and noting rising global demand, especially from countries such as India and China. This means using less energy in products and services and changing the way energy is produced so that more of it comes from low-carbon sources. It also identified the need for a fairer distribution of energy around the world, and identified that many resources, especially of fossil fuels which are concentrated in just a few countries.

The starting point for reducing carbon emissions is to save energy. The challenge is to secure the heat, light and energy we need in homes and businesses in a way that cuts the amount of oil, gas and electricity used and the carbon dioxide emitted. Actions proposed include:

Cleaner Energy Under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004 a Home Information Pack (HIP), sometimes called a Sellers Pack, will have to be provided before a property in England and Wales can be put on the open market for sale with vacant possession. ... The European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is the largest multi-national, greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world and is a main pillar of EU climate policy. ... The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is a tax on energy delivered to non-domestic users in the United Kingdom. ... A carbon audit regime is an effective means of accounting for greenhouse gas control efforts. ...

Cost-effective ways of using less energy will help move towards the carbon reduction goal. But on their own they will not provide the solution to the challenges faced: there is also a need to make the energy used cleaner. Under this head, the Government considered:

The Energy Security Challenge Not to be confused with California Highway Patrol. ... The Renewables Obligation (RO)[1] is designed to incentivise the generation of electricity from eligible renewable sources in the United Kingdom. ...

The challenges of reducing carbon emissions and ensuring security of supply are closely linked. Security of supply requires that we have good access to available fuel supplies, the infrastructure in place to transport them to centres of demand and effective markets so that supply meets demand in the most efficient way. Many of the measures already described for tackling carbon emissions also contribute to the healthy diversity of energy sources that is necessary for meeting the energy security challenge. Energy security, or security of supply, is a key component of energy policy in many countries. ...

The Government’s response is to continue to open up markets and to work internationally to develop strong relationships with suppliers, developing liberalised markets.

So where does nuclear power fit within this debate? Although it is mentioned a lot more in the Review compared to the White Paper (441 times, compared to 55 to be exact), the Government does not propose building new stations itself. Instead, it will leave it to the market, although it will ease some of the planning constraints (which it also aims to do for renewables) and look into providing a design authorisation procedure. However, as with many other aspects of the Energy Review Response, the document is not likely to be the last word on the subject, as there are plans for further consultation, and the establishment of further reviews and studies in issues such as identifying suitable sites, and managing the costs of decommissioning and long term waste management. Nuclear power plants in United Kingdom (view) Active plants Closed plants As of 2006, the United Kingdom operates 24 nuclear reactors generating one-fifth of its electricity (19. ...

Issues not thoroughly addressed by UK policy

Despite some successes and stated goals, there are some issues that are incompletely addressed by UK policy. The principal such items are:

This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other types of Hybrid Transportation, see Hybrid (disambiguation)#Transportation. ... For the physical concepts, see conservation of energy and energy efficiency. ... This cosmetics store has lighting levels over twice recommended levels and sufficient to trigger headaches and other health effects Over-illumination is the presence of lighting intensity (illuminance) beyond that required for a specified activity. ...

Public opinion

The UK results from the 1st Annual World Environment Review, published on June 5, 2007 revealed that:^[10]

Contents

Overview

Primary energy sources

Coal

Gas

Nuclear Power

Renewables

Energy end usage

Carbon emissions reduction

Climate Change Bill

Renewable energy

Energy poverty

2007 Energy White Paper

Government strategy

Energy conservation

Energy supply

2006 Energy Review

Status

Background

Contents

Issues not thoroughly addressed by UK policy

Public opinion

See also

References

External links

In the media

Contents

Overview GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Primary energy sources

Coal

Gas

Nuclear Power

Renewables

Energy end usage

Carbon emissions reduction

Climate Change Bill

Renewable energy

Energy poverty

2007 Energy White Paper

Government strategy

Energy conservation

Energy supply

2006 Energy Review

Status

Background

Contents

Issues not thoroughly addressed by UK policy

Public opinion

See also

References

External links

In the media

Overview