Energy white paper

UK Energy Policies and Strategy

Energy White Paper (2003): Our Energy Future – Creating a Low Carbon Economy

The greatest energy questions facing the UK are how to tackle climate change and how to keep our power supply secure. The government’s 2003 Energy White Paper set four goals which have steered energy policy in recent years:

to cut the UK’s CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050 with real progress to be made by 2020.
to maintain the reliability of energy supplies.
to promote competitive markets in the UK and beyond, helping to raise the rate of sustainable economic growth and to improve productivity
to ensure that every home is adequately and affordably heated.

The report concluded that the way to achieve these goals was through a combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

Every 10% rise in gas and electricity prices forces 500,000 more people into fuel poverty (i.e. a household that spends more than 10% of its income on fuel), so an increase in renewable energy sources will insulate these households from fuel price rises.

The EWP committed to a target of 10% of energy requirements from renewable sources by 2010 and 20% by 2020. The vision is to reduce the energy requirements of new homes, progressing towards low or even zero carbon emissions (the ‘Passive House’, a building which is capable of being both heated and cooled through use of natural resources – e.g. solar gain – inside and outside the house). Refurbishment of existing buildings should also consider energy efficiency and renewable power sources.

Click here to download a summary of the Energy White Paper

“Our third ambition is for Britain's homes and businesses to be the most energy efficient in the world.”
Chancellor Gordon Brown (Budget 06)