Seemingly slow to catch on to the potential of renewable energy, it seemed that the UK had finally cottoned on to the advantages of green investments with the passing of the Energy Act, the creation of the Department of Clean Energy and Climate Change and the recent introduction of feed-in tariffs.

However, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has delivered a warning suggesting that cut-backs in government spending on low carbon initiatives could see the UK fall behind competitors in the green energy industry.

The CCC, which advises the government on meeting carbon emission reduction targets both in the short and long term has stated that the government should re-think cutting £34 million from renewable energy projects including wind, biofuel and geothermal energy. Indeed the CCC believes strongly that more investment should be made in green projects to ensure the long term viability of the British renewable industry.

With Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announcements confirming that certain grants for green projects will be cut, it certainly gives a slightly worrying indication that more cloth cutting could be taking place over the next 12 months. With this in mind, the CCC has highlighted the keys areas in critical need of continued government support:

·          Offshore wind

·          Tidal & wave power

·          Carbon dioxide capture and storage

·          Cleaner aviation

·          Electric vehicles

·          Smart power grids