Renewables industry braces itself for "lean and mean" future
The UK's renewable energy industry is facing a stiff challenge in adapting to a complex support mechanism announced by the Government in February. 1 Ministers' emphasis on a "lean and mean" market-based approach has scuppered plans to encourage new technologies such as offshore wind power and energy crops - even though these are vital if the Government is to meet its target for renewable energy. Significant uncertainties remain over the future role of "green electricity" tariffs and a budding international trade in renewable energy certificates.