However, overshadowing renewables in the Energy Review was the decision to put nuclear power 'back on the agenda with a vengeance'. The report says that a mix of energy supplies is essential and that nuclear power has a significant role to play in addressing climate change and ensuring security of supply.

But despite Government efforts to portray nuclear as a 'green' energy source, there is widespread concern over the long-term safe storage of nuclear waste, the potential for another Chernobyl, the centralising of electricity generation for the next 50 years and the massive cost. Already facing a £70bn bill to decommission existing nuclear plants, billions more of taxpayer money could go to the nuclear industry as tax relief and government guarantees for a new round of nuclear facilities, leaving only scraps for renewables.

The Government's own Environment Agency said, 'We are concerned about the displacement effect that a large programme of investment in one capital intensive technology like nuclear may have on energy efficiency and renewable technologies.'

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), which also champions other marine renewables such as wave and tidal power, expressed concern at the report's failure to provide a committed timescale in which the 20% RO target would be achieved. The Carbon Trust estimates that the UK may get only half way to its target of 10% of supply from renewable energy by 2010.

The report's statement of intent to speed up planning decisions for both renewable energy and nuclear facilities could bring the 11,000MW of wind energy projects currently awaiting approval forward in time to help meet the Government target. Wind energy will be the biggest contributor to that target. According to the BWEA, wind, wave and tidal power can supply 21% of the UK's projected electricity needs by 2020, resulting in some £16bn of investment and potentially avoiding the emission of 32m tons of carbon dioxide.

MJInformation No: 22102