Energy Security
As the UK's oil and gas reserves decline, we are becoming increasingly dependent on other countries for our energy. The amount of energy imported by the EU is set to increase from the current 50% to 70% by 2030. Diversification of energy supply was identified as an important element of addressing this problem in the EU Green Paper on Energy Security published in 2000. It set targets for increasing renewable energy use but recent analysis indicates that policies introduced by member nations to date are insufficient to meet these targets.
The UK has become a net importer of gas in recent years and is becoming a net importer of oil as our own reserves decline. Oil prices have risen signficantly as ever-increasing global demand begins to outstrip growth in supply. The UK government has carried out a Energy Review to look at how to manage our future energy supply. Key issues include energy savings, transport, energy for heat and electricity generation, fuel poverty and international policy.
A secure supply of energy is important to us all. Uncertainty over supply results in rapid price fluctuations which have a serious impact on industry. As individuals, we are seeing increasing energy costs with more and more people being forced into fuel poverty, spending more than 10% of their income on heat and electricity. Councils across Scotland are being faced with major increases in their costs, particularly in rural areas. Renewable energy, generated locally, can be part of the solution.
Biomass in particular is unique in being able to supply energy on demand, compared to the intermittent availability of other forms of renewable resource. The availablity is reasonably predictable with effective data and, although primarily a local source of energy, is also an internationally tradable commodity.
Useful links
Energy - Government
DBERR: Energy
Scottish Government: Energy
Energy - Support
Scottish Renewables Forum
Carbon Trust
Energy Savings Trust