Electricity Market Reform (EMR) White Paper 2011
A reform is needed with regard to electricity and how we use it as a nation. It is estimated that by the year 2050 demand for electricity will double, therefore, there is no possibility that things can be left as they are. Coal mines have all but closed down and nuclear power stations have closed. Electricity is more and more in demand and the current national grid will not cope. On 12 July 2011 the Government issued a white paper the objective of which is to attract investors, reduce bills and create a new green energy future using a fusion of gas, nuclear and renewable energy sources.
May 2007 Government White Paper
The UK's previous white paper published in May 2007 was entitled "Meeting the Energy Challenge" which set out the Government's energy strategy for both overseas and the UK. The key aims were to cut carbon emissions by 2050, preserving the energy supplies we have, encouraging competitiveness in the market in the UK and beyond and ensuring people's homes are heated effectively and within affordable price ranges. The current Government has continued with the Feed-In Tariff Scheme that was put in place with the previous Government for users to sell back any surplus energy they produced themselves. The Government is also working with certain energy suppliers to trial methods of different billing styles. A pilot scheme for the use of smart meters is currently on going.
Green Roadmap
The Green Roadmap was published by the European Commission in September of this year. The aim is to adapt the whole of the EU's energy economy to sustainability by the year 2050. Recycling has always been what most would do to help with their impact on climate change; these government papers take things further discussing sustainability, renewable energy, competitiveness, fair-pricing and maintenance of these systems once in place. The Green Roadmap is in place to advance all EU Governments and industry investors and help to encourage all involved to conquer difficulties they may face going forward with these aims. An energy-resourceful Europe is what is strived for; however, thought has to be given to the impact of any drastic measures. Things take time to assess and once assessed and put into place take further time to take full effect. By the end of 2013 clear objectives should be agreed under the Green Roadmap. Work is already in place in the UK with the Government Clean Energy Cashback Scheme in place to encourage households to install solar energy systems, and smart meters are to be installed in each household by the year 2020.
The Future
The year of 2020 is the target for the reduction of carbon emissions for the UK. It is also when the energy companies hope to have installed smart meters in all households. Other technologies to be further developed are wind energy in the form of both on-shore and off-shore turbines. Biomass energy (carbon based) and ground based heat pumps (drawing heat from underground) are further technologies to be developed along with solar energy and deep geothermal sources (natural thermal energy produced in the earth). As each year goes by companies produce systems that everyday people can buy and begin to use in their lives; which should vastly improve the reduction of energy consumption and consequently the reduction of carbon emissions and hopefully cost.
