UK - New initiative for public sector renewables development a welcome boost

BWEA, the UK’s leading renewable energy organisation, has welcomed the announcement of a new initiative from the Carbon Trust to increase the pace of development of renewables in the UK, which has been backed by £10 million funding from Defra. The Carbon Trust's ‘Partnership for Renewables’ (PfR) will partner with private sector organisations to develop and manage onsite renewable energy projects with local authorities, health trusts and other public sector bodies. PfR plans to develop 500 MW of renewable projects, primarily 3-5 MW wind projects, over the next five years.

Meanwhile, as part of demonstrating Government’s leadership on sustainable energy and driving forward the carbon market, Environment Secretary David Miliband has announced £10 million funding for the scheme, commenting that this investment has the potential to unlock up to half a billion pounds in private investment, producing electricity equivalent to the needs of a quarter of a million homes at zero cost to the environment.

BWEA Chief Executive Maria McCaffery MBE added her welcome to the announcement, saying: “This will be welcome news to our members working in onshore wind who are leading the way in delivering the Government targets for renewable energy by 2010. There are many good examples of wind energy already developed on public sector land, at schools, hospitals and council buildings, and Partnerships for Renewables, aided by Defra’s support, will catalyse further development of this exciting new sector.”