UK Pursues Renewable, Reduced Energy Use

WASHINGTON - Jul 17/06 - SNS -- As part of its efforts to transform its energy sector and reduce carbon emissions, the United Kingdom is working to generate 20% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020, and to have 5% of the country's needs for automobile fuel met with biofuels by 2010.

"Renewable energy is an integral part of the UK government's long-term aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050," notes the U.S. agricultural attache for the country in a recent report.

"The UK utilizes the power of the sun, wind, waves, tides, and biomass (including waste) to generate electricity. Today renewable energy sources account for just 5% of the UK's total electricity output, but the UK government has set a target to increase this to 20% by 2020."

Interestingly, the British government is not simply tacking the problem of how electricity is generated. It also plans for force a reduction in usage by outlawing standby mode on televisions and video and DVD players. Government legislation would also force manufacturers to improve the energy efficiency of refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers and other home appliances.

U.K. Environment Minister Elliot Morley says devices left in standby or sleep mode consume an estimated 7TWh of energy per year in the United Kingdom, or the total production of two average power stations. Producing that energy emits around 800,000 MT of carbon. The average British household has roughly 12 gadgets on standby or charging. There are about 60.4 million people in the United Kingdom.

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