Private sector 'will lead renewable energy boom'

Companies in the private sector will lead the renewable industry boom in the coming years, it has been suggested.

Thomas Lingard, deputy director of Green Alliance, an organisation that seeks to make environmental solutions a priority in British politics, said that ultimately, it is private investors and not the government who will put capital into developing renewable energy solutions.

"What we hear from the organisations that we talk to is that the most important thing that the government can do is provide the certainty within the regulatory framework that gives those companies the confidence to invest in what can be very long term projects with very long term paybacks," he explained.

Mr Lingard said the Green Alliance is keen to ensure there is an attractive investment environment in the UK and argued that it is up to the government to give companies the confidence to choose Britain as the base for their operations.

Meanwhile, it was announced in the Budget earlier this year that an additional £1.4 billion will be provided to help support the low-carbon sector, with £375 million earmarked to help improve efficiency in public buildings and households across the country.

Written by Lauren Steadman