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EU targets hit UK energy strategy EU targets hit UK energy strategy
(about 1 hour later)
Britain's energy plans have been thrown into disarray by ambitious European Union targets, the BBC has learned.Britain's energy plans have been thrown into disarray by ambitious European Union targets, the BBC has learned.
Ministers had intended to aim to produce 20% of Britain's electricity from renewable sources by 2020.Ministers had intended to aim to produce 20% of Britain's electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
But a recently-published EU strategy demands that 20% of all energy should come from such sources - four times more renewables than the UK intended. But EU targets state 20% of all energy - including fuel for home heating domestic aviation and cars, as well as electricity, must come from renewables.
BBC environment correspondent Roger Harrabin said a forthcoming white paper will cover over the policy gaps. BBC environment correspondent Roger Harrabin says a forthcoming white paper will cover over the policy gaps.
The recently-published EU strategy will mean the UK will need to produce four times more renewable energy than had been intended.
Exact shareExact share
The government will flesh out more detailed ideas when the legislation is proposed in the autumn, our correspondent said. The government will flesh out more detailed ideas when the legislation is proposed in the autumn, our correspondent says.
The UK's exact share of the EU's energy obligation is still being debated.The UK's exact share of the EU's energy obligation is still being debated.
Renewable energy sources include wind and solar power and it is hoped that promoting them will help cut greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, the UK is facing further obstacles in meeting EU targets on cutting carbon emissions.
Under the EU's strategy, these will have to meet 20% of all energy, including fuel for cars, heating, domestic aviation and industry. The government is planning to obtain 5% of road fuels from plant sources by 2010.
Car firms have been pushing biofuel as a green alternative to petrol but a consortium of green groups have warned it could lead to "massive degradation" of rainforests.
It is also understood that some oil industry representatives have told the government they cannot hit their targets on biofuel without causing "unacceptable destruction" to wildlife.