State of the South West 2008

This section on energy contains information and trends on electricity and gas consumption in the region as well as renewable energy schemes. Energy use and efficiency is an important environmental issue in terms of climate change, local air quality and wiser use of natural resources.

We remain dependent on traditional fossil fuels for most of our electricity generation, although low carbon forms of energy production almost trebled between 1990 and 2005 (DTI, 2006). Nationally, the Energy White Paper identifies the opportunity to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by developing a low carbon economy in the UK. It sets out the challenges facing the environment, including the decline of indigenous energy supplies, the need to update the energy infrastructure and the policies that need to be pursued over the next 20 years to meet these challenges.

In the South West, the Government Office South West, South West Regional Assembly and South West Regional Development Agency are working with partners to develop a Local Carbon Housing and Fuel Poverty Strategy in addition to an overarching sustainable energy strategy.

Regional and local electricity & gas consumption data was made available for the first time in 2005 which were based on 2003 statistics.  Since then, further experimental data has been released for 2004 and 2005, although these years are not comparable due to improvements in data collection.

Energy use is a major contributor to climate change, a fact that is driving the development of renewable energy schemes. A national target has been set requiring 10% of all electricity to come from renewable sources by 2010. The South West, however, has adopted a 15% target within regional planning guidance. Around 25% of carbon dioxide is thought to come from energy use in the home.