Positive Energy: how renewable electricity can transform ... - WWF UK

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introduction WWF believes that renewable energy could meet almost 100% of the world’s energy needs by 2050. In February 2011, we published our international Energy Report 5 , a detailed analytical study by leading energy consultancy Ecofys, demonstrating that it is technically possible to achieve this. The report also found that reduced fuel costs and improved energy efficiency could save the world economy up to €4 trillion per year by 2050 (roughly 2% of world gross domestic product (GDP) by that date). This does not include the added benefits of avoiding the worst impacts of unmitigated climate change, avoiding long-term radioactive waste management costs and reducing health costs as a result of less atmospheric pollution. The UK adopted the Climate Change Act in 2008, which commits the country to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. To achieve this, the CCC has made recommendations for each sector of the UK economy. Producing electricity currently accounts for approximately 32% of total UK CO2 emissions 6 . Low carbon alternatives, especially renewable energy, can significantly cut emissions in this sector. In light of this, the CCC recently recommended that the ‘carbon intensity’ of the UK’s power sector (i.e. the amount of CO2 emitted per kWh of electricity produced) be reduced to one tenth of its current level by 2030 7 , to 50g of CO2 per kWh of electricity generated. The UK is also subject to the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive, which set a legally binding target for the UK to meet 15% of its overall energy needs by 2020 with renewable energy. That means the UK needs to generate approximately 30% of its electricity from renewables by 2020. This is because it is easier to generate electricity from renewables as opposed to using renewables for heat or transport. Currently, renewables generate approximately 7% of the UK’s electricity. We are entering a period of huge change for the power sector. The transport and heating sectors are expected to be partly electrified, so will consume increasing amounts of electricity. Provided that UK power supply is progressively decarbonised, this will help significantly reduce their carbon emissions. At the same time, a considerable amount of the UK’s ageing electricity generation infrastructure is due to close over the next decade. Decisions made now will play a significant part in determining how successful the UK is in meeting its decarbonisation target in an environmentally sustainable way. WWF-UK 2011 Positive Energy page 14
Environmental sustainability We strongly support the CCC’s recommendations for decarbonising electricity generation. However, we believe that decarbonising the power sector should be done in the most environmentally and socially sustainable way possible. Electricity generation has a myriad of impacts on the environment. Whether these are linked to climate change, degradation caused by extracting fossil fuels from unconventional sources 9 , or biodiversity loss caused by large hydroelectric schemes, these risks must be fully taken into account by energy policy makers. We believe that relying on nuclear power should be avoided. It poses unacceptably high environmental risks. These include long-lasting and highly toxic radioactive waste for which there is no satisfactory long-term storage solution 10 and the potential catastrophic consequences of a nuclear accident. Nuclear power leaves future generations with the burden of managing radioactive waste without benefiting from the electricity originally produced. Nuclear isn’t necessarily the cheapest option either. Significant delays and cost overruns have blighted nuclear projects in Finland. The Olkiluoto EPR project is running three years behind schedule and 55% over budget. In France, another EPR project at Flamanville is expected two years late with costs almost double the £3.3bn originally forecast 11 . Making energy efficiency and renewable energy the twin priorities of UK energy policy is the best way of minimising environmental impacts from electricity generation. Cutting demand for energy by increasing energy efficiency and reducing consumption will reduce carbon emissions and other negative environmental impacts. Energy efficiency also lowers bills for consumers and reduces the amount of infrastructure to carry power that we need to build. CURRENTLY, RENEWABLES GENERATE APPROXIMATELY 7% OF THE UK’S ELECTRICITY. WWF-UK 2011 Positive Energy page 15
Page 1 and 2: REPORT UK OCTOBER 2011 Climate chan
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Executive summary 4 10 Pol
Page 5 and 6: © National Geographic Stock / Jim
Page 7 and 8: A ‘CORE’ SCENARIO SYSTEM SECURI
Page 9 and 10: HIGH LEVELS OF INTERCONNECTION TO E
Page 11 and 12: 10 POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE U
Page 13: • Clear safeguards, such as a str
Page 17 and 18: © MICHEL GUNTHER /WWF-CANON
Page 19 and 20: Methodology This report begins by e
Page 21 and 22: Figure 1: Central and ambitious ele
Page 23 and 24: Resources and generation mix Having
Page 25 and 26: In their 2050 pathways analysis 24
Page 27 and 28: © Steve Morgan / WWF-UK GL GH mode
Page 29 and 30: Scenario A2: Ambitious demand scena
Page 31 and 32: Scenario B2: Ambitious demand scena
Page 33 and 34: Stretch scenario C2: Ambitious dema
Page 35 and 36: Table 1: Breakdown of gas generatio
Page 37 and 38: Costs Cost projections in GL GH’s
Page 39 and 40: The spiralling cost of nuclear In i
Page 41 and 42: © NATUREPL.COM / WILD WONDERS OF E
Page 43 and 44: to Norway (which offers energy stor
Page 45 and 46: © WILD WONDER OF EUROPE / INAKI RE
Page 47 and 48: Renewable energy: economics and opp
Page 49 and 50: How do we drive down the cost of re
Page 51 and 52: WWF-UK 2011 Positive Energy page 51
Page 53 and 54: A green future for UK jobs • Offs
Page 55 and 56: There is considerable uncertainty a
Page 57 and 58: The scenarios show that by 2030 a l
Page 59 and 60: Electricity Market Reform - In Dece
Page 61 and 62: 20 The resource estimates in figure
Page 63 and 64: 58 UK Energy Research Centre. 2010.

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