A new change has been made in government policies regarding the subsidies related to renewable energy. As a part of this change, the ministers have decided to decrease the support that was previously provided for solar energy and also of the onshore wind energy. According to BBC, there will be an increase in the price of the wind power. Sources from the coalition parties stated that they do not require the similar level of investment and support from state in the renewable energy projects as they used to receive in the past. Instead, they acknowledged that the decision taken by the state is sound and would oppose the treats by Ukip, whose principles clash with that of wind farms.
In UK, to meet the rise in requirement, the generation of electricity from renewable energy has to increase twice than it is generated now, by 2020. This year, In between Aril and June, the electricity generated from the various sources of green energy has accounted for 15.5 percent of the total electricity that has been generated. But, the generation has to be increased by 30 percent in the coming seven years. As per the government sources, they have made a remarkable progress. Since 2010, there has been 31 billion pound investment in the generation of electricity from renewable sources by private investors.
The government sources claim that the various types of green energy will play an important role in providing electricity to the whole of Britain. In Britain, wind, solar, hydro, bioenergy, wave and tidal energy plays an important role for generating electricity from renewable sources. According to recent data, the total electricity that is generated, wind power contributes 7.5 percent of it. By 2020, the government aims to increase the offshore wind capacity from 3.7 to 16 GW, and the onshore from 6.7 to 13 GW. RenewableUK claims that at present approximately, 5,100 turbines are working.
Of the total electricity that is generated solar power along with that of wave and tidal power accounts to just 0.5 percent. By 2020, the government aims to reach 10 GW of production. Though Gregory Barker, the minister of energy and climate states that he aims 20 GW within 2023. Last year UK appeared tenth on the list of the countries that produce maximum electricity using solar power. But, by 2014 it is predicted it will be securing its place in the seventh position.
In UK, hydropower contributes only 1.2 percent of the total electricity generated. The government assumes that, by 2020, hydropower will make a modest input to the targets set for electricity from renewable sources. According to a recent study, the hydropower can only be an increase from 850 MW to 1550 MW. Bioenergy contributes to only 6.3 percent of the total electricity that is being generated. A recent analysis by the government suggests that, by 2020, it can only add to 8 to 10 percent of the electricity generated in Britain. Though the government confesses, that they are quiet uncertain about the estimation that has been projected.