Energy Review concluded

The UK Government has outlined its long-term policy on energy generation following the conclusion of its Energy Review, revealing a varied and open set of proposals. A range of renewables policies were included in the announcement, along with the expected confirmation of a new nuclear energy programme.

"This is a critical moment to make informed choices to safeguard our quality of life for the coming decades. Today's proposals will set out a framework within which the energy market will operate for the coming 30 to 40 years,” said Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling.

Under the proposals, the Renewables Obligation will be revised to 20%, barriers to carbon capture technology will be removed, and the planning system for renewable facilities will be ‘streamlined’ in order to speed up the existing process. Additionally, a range of energy efficiency measures for householders and businesses will be introduced.

Touted during the announcement as a ‘low carbon’ option, nuclear was highlighted as a contributer in the UK’s future energy mix, with a new generation of power stations outlined. A figure of 6% by 2020, a marked drop on today’s levels, was cited. The go-ahead was granted to the controversial energy source despite a massive level of opposition from many areas, and a wealth of information submitted to the review that revealed it to be uneconomical and unsafe.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks intimated that the proposals, many of which will go to consultation over the coming months, represented an agenda rather than defined solutions, commenting; "It's not possible in 2006 to make all the policy decisions needed up to 2050. Circumstances will change, technology in particular will advance, but today's proposals set us more firmly on track to achieving our energy policy objectives.

The announcements were strongly criticised by environmental campaign groups, who called the Energy Review a ‘missed opportunity’, and a ‘farce’.

"The disastrous economics of the nuclear industry means that UK taxpayers are already committed to paying tens of billions of pounds to clean up the mess created by half a century of nuclear power. Without massive public subsidies it is very doubtful that private sector companies will take the huge financial risks of building new nuclear reactors. To this extent it looks like the government is opening the door for new state handouts for nuclear," said Friends of the Earth’s Tony Juniper.

"Tony Blair is fixated with getting new nuclear power stations built, and that means anything substantial in this review that supports clean green energy will be fatally undermined as long as Blair remains Prime Minister,” said said Stephen Tindale, Greenpeace Executive Director. “You can't roll out new nuclear power stations and build widespread sustainable energy projects. The reality is that nuclear sucks up all the money. There is an enormous radioactive cloud hanging over this energy review which threatens to drown any positive moves on decentralised energy, renewables and energy efficiency."