"Alongside a 36% increase in renewables capacity in the last 12 months, this shows that the UK is powering forward on clean and secure energy and is clearly a very attractive place to invest."

The report also shows that figures for micro-generation installations rose during the first half of 2012, with the feed-in tariff incentive driving the majority of the uptake, especially in the solar sector. Primary energy consumption also fell by 2.3% year-on-year, showing a marked increase in energy efficiency in the UK.

These statistics have largely been welcomed by the renewables industry as they provide a significant boost to the targets set by the self-dubbed “greenest Government ever.” To date the Coalitions renewable energy policies have been criticized for lacking ambition.

Yet despite the renewables positivity the report outlines that there is still much work to be done in the road towards the 2020 carbon targets as fossil fuels remain dominant in the UK’s energy mix.

29 June 2012 href=http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/plans_emerge_for_uk_based_solar_module_manufacturing_facility_5478