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Energy: Carbon Emissions

Volume 710: debated on Thursday 14 May 2009

Question

Asked by

To ask Her Majesty's Government by what amount carbon emissions will be reduced by proposals for wind power generation on land in the United Kingdom; and how much carbon will be generated by the construction and manufacture of the generating capacity and infrastructure involved. [HL3108]

The UK renewable energy strategy consultation document set out scenarios for deployment of renewable energy needed to meet the UK's share of the EU renewable energy target. The central scenario presented in the consultation document hhtp://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewables/res/res.aspx suggested that the UK might need to produce around 32 per cent electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020.

This level of renewable electricity was estimated to save between 45 to 50 MtCO2 in 2020, of which around 27 per cent, or 12 to 13 MtCO2 could be attributable to onshore wind. Emissions from electricity generation are covered by the emissions trading scheme (ETS). Carbon savings from onshore wind are not counted as additional to ETS emissions reductions.

Carbon savings are estimated by comparing the emissions from the generation mix under the renewable energy target, against emissions from the forecast generation mix under current measures, including RO banding. Estimates were made by independent consultants Redpoint et al (2008), and do not include any estimates for lifecycle emissions (from construction and manufacture) either of the renewable technologies, or of the conventional alternative.