UK expects renewable energy to meet 37% of electricity demand by 2022

07/11/2013

The UK's Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) expects renewable energy to increase to meet over 37% of the nation's electricity demand by 2022, in its latest annual energy and emissions projections.

This is roughly the same as 2012 projections, with lower expectations of renewable energy output coupled with lower projected electricity demand. The report expects renewable energy output to more than triple to 123.4 TWh in 2022, from 40.7 TWh in 2012.

DECC made multiple policy changes since the release of the last report, including reducing RO levels for PV.

The report does not offer specific projections for solar photovoltaics (PV). It does show that the UK expects to meet its emissions reduction targets, with emissions falling to 2.50 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent in the third carbon budget (2018-2022).

Relatively modest goals, limited progress to date

It should be noted that the UK's renewable energy goals are more modest than other nations, and it has made less progress on moving to renewable energy compared to other Western European nations.

Portugal and Denmark already get 37% or more of their electricity from renewable energy on an annual basis, and Spain and Italy have reached more than 30%. The UK met only 11% of its electricity demand with renewables in 2012, less than even the United States.

DECC makes multiple policy changes in 2012

The projections of energy demand and supply are republished annually, based upon policy changes. Since the publication of the last report, the DECC has made a number of changes to its energy policies, including reducing renewables obligation (RO) levels for solar photovoltaic (PV) generation.

Renewable energy to reach over 40% by 2030

The period to 2022 is based on the first three carbon budgets, where the government has a clearly defined suite of policies. Whereas for the period 2023 and beyond, the report's projections are based on the absence of any additional policy report. Despite this, the report expects renewable energy to rise to over 40% of electricity demand by 2030.

UK expects renewable energy to meet 37% of electricity demand by 2022

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National Energy Efficiency Programme - Ministry of Industry and Trade