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such concerns in 1999 when it introduces its first strategy “to help deliver a better quality of life through sustainable development” (Tony Blair, The UK Government Sustainable

Development Strategy, March 2005). The Government's 2003 Energy White Paper sets a direction towards achieving low carbon economy, by attempting to resolve the issue on domestic basis first and to influence the major players in the global community to follow the same footsteps. The UK Government has committed itself to cut down greenhouse gas emissions, as mentioned above the government; according to its 2003 Energy White Paper, declared that its mission is to move to a low carbon economy and set out its target that by the year 2050 carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 60 percent in addition to the Kyoto Protocol target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 percent by the year 2012, and the ambitious national goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent below the 1990 levels by the year 2010 (The UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy, 2005).

However, the UK's CO2 emissions rose in the period 2002-04 (levels in 2004 showing a 1.5% increase over 2003) (DTI 2005a). These issues are arising at a time when large numbers of the UK's coal and nuclear-fired power stations are also reaching decommissioning age. This presents the UK with an opportunity to re-structure the fuels in its energy mix.

According to the British Wind Energy (BWEA) the UK could face some challenges in meeting the renewable energy target of 20 percent by 2020 if it increases the amount of electricity generated under its Renewable Obligation, but puts on hold “financial penalties for utilities that help fund the program at 2015 levels” (Challenges Ahead for UK Renewable Energy Program, 2007). The BWEA Chief Executive Maria McCaffery has commented on reform proposal: 'The RO has been highly successful in bringing forward the cheapest renewables: onshore wind, landfill gas and biomass co-firing. The Government's plan to 'band' the RO could allow more technologies to share in this success, particularly offshore wind but this cannot be at the expense of onshore wind's current strong growth. Accommodating the more expensive technologies whilst trying to get to a 20% target in 2020 -- using the same amount of money as a 15% goal -- is like trying to extract a quart from a pint pot. It just doesn't add up'. Essentially, said BWEA, “the government is attempting to get a third more renewable power with a mix that includes significant quantities of technologies -- that are not economic under the current system -- for the same amount of money” (Challenges Ahead for UK Renewable Energy Program, 2007). John Loughhead, the Executive Director of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) said: 'Achieving these targets will be challenging, since the UK currently obtains less that 2% of its energy from renewable sources. It is probable that electricity production will have to bear a disproportionate share and initial estimates from the European Commission and others suggest it may need to produce about 40% of all electricity from renewable sources by 2020 if the overall targets are to be met'.

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