Ricardo : AEA to propose 2030 renewable energy targets for Scotland
June 24, 2014 at 09:08 am EDT
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Ricardo-AEA, in collaboration with University College London (UCL), has been appointed by WWF Scotland - part of the international WWF network, one of the world's most influential environmental organizations - to propose possible 2030 renewable energy targets for Scotland.
Scotland, and the UK as a whole, has legally binding targets to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. Renewable energy will deliver a major part of these reductions and Scotland is already committed to meet 30 percent of the country's total energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. Scotland has also set out an ambition to secure 100 percent of its electricity demand from renewable energy by 2020. With excellent progress made towards the 2020 targets, a key policy issue is the need to assess the potential for renewable energy in 2030.
The Ricardo-AEA project will include an assessment of Scotland's current renewable energy provision and its existing aspirations, together with its corresponding emissions targets. UCL's contribution to this is offered through its world-leading Energy Institute in combination with UCL Consultants Ltd. The UK MARKAL model - a multi-time period linear optimization model developed extensively by UCL Energy Institute and Ricardo-AEA, portraying the entire UK energy system from imports and domestic production resources through to energy service demands - will then be used to develop renewable energy scenarios covering heat, electricity and transport in 2030. The work will provide a robust evidence base to help support decision-making on renewable energy issues in Scotland.
"The recent IPCC reports confirmed the degree of change in energy supply that is needed to mitigate dangerous climate change," said Ricardo-AEA renewables knowledge leader Colin McNaught. "Scotland has already made great strides towards its renewables target for electricity and is rich in renewable energy potential. As the need to decarbonize the power sector has been widely recognized, much attention has been paid to how this would be done. Our project will therefore also focus on the increasing importance of renewable energy for the heat and transport sectors. We're excited to have won this important project which should help Scotland to move towards a broadly supported 2030 renewable energy target."
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Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company. The Company operates through five segments: Energy and Environment (EE), Rail, Automotive and Industrial (A&I), Defense, and Performance Products (PP). The EE segment is engaged in the provision of environmental consultancy services to customers across the world. The Rail segment is a consultancy unit that provides technical advice and engineering services; and performs accredited assurance services. The A&I segment is engaged in the provision of engineering, strategic consulting, and design, development, and testing services, focused on hybrid and electric systems, electrification, engines, driveline and transmissions, testing, and vehicle engineering. The Defense segment provides engineering services, software, and products to customers in the United States defense market. The PP segment manufactures, assembles, and develops niche components, prototypes, and complex products.
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