UK accused of blocking green grid

The UK has been accused of making an EU directive to promote renewable energy weaker, it has been reported.

The UK has been accused of making an EU directive to promote renewable energy weaker, it has been reported.

Luxembourg MEP Claude Turmes has thrown the allegation at Gordon Brown after the UK attempted to amend the recent directive that called for governments to give priority to renewables in their power grids.

The prime minister and his government was criticised for trying to push for a change in the terminology of one key sentence; that governments "shall" give priority access to green energy.

The UK government however wanted this changed to say that governments "can" give priority to green power if they so wish.

Discussing the British attempt to amend the EU directive, Mr Turmes said: "This would take us backwards and would weaken the possibilities of connecting renewable energy to the grid.

"A government that says it wants to promote renewables cannot go for other policies behind the scenes."

Earlier this year a House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills committee reported the "frustration" of renewable companies that had secured almost 10 gigawatt of power but were not connected to the grid.