As reported by Ananova on 24th February, the UK Government has pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% over the next 50 years. This target is a key part of the energy white paper, entitled Our Energy Future - Creating a Low Carbon Economy, unveiled by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

The target is to be met by a drive to improve energy efficiency and an expansion of renewable power generation.

The Energy Savings Trust (EST) has proposed a package of taxes and allowances that will help us to meet targets for energy efficiency.

EST has urged Gordon Brown to cut VAT to 5% on the most efficient products in his Budget, expected on March 25.

As reported by the Guardian, Nick Eyre, EST director of policy, said lowering VAT from 17.5% to 5% on the most highly rated appliances, including new micro-combined heat and power units due to come on to the market next winter, could cost the Treasury tens of millions. The lower rate already applies to loft insulation.

But the chancellor could raise £60m in the first year by imposing an environmental tax or inefficiency charge on the most inefficient products, including a 50p tax on light bulbs. In Denmark a similar tax had prompted consumers to switch to more efficient bulbs.

The trust also wants Mr Brown to change the winter fuel payments for pensioners so that instead of the £200 cash, they could instead take £100 cash along with a £150 coupon to install energy efficient home improvements such as cavity wall insulation.

Although there has been much coverage of the Government's relaxing of targets for renewable energy generation, the white paper clearly indicates that this is a key part of the attempt to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. What are our options?

The Guardian recently summarised the advantages and disadvantages of the various forms of renewable energy as far as Britain is concerned:

Wind

• Advantages The UK is the windiest country in Europe and there are enormous areas which could provide on-shore and off-shore wind farms. The technology is well developed but off-shore wind is expensive because of construction costs and bringing the power to grid.
• Disadvantages Wind is not predictable so other forms of power must be available to make up any shortfall. There is a well organised anti-windfarm lobby.

Wave

• Advantages The UK has a lot of coastline exposed to Atlantic waves. There are few environmental objections and the developments would be in areas which need the investment and the work.
• Disadvantages The technology is still a long way from large scale commercial development, and like wind, the amount of power produced will vary with the weather.

Tidal

• Advantages The UK has the biggest tides in the world, and there are lots of potential technologies. Tidal barrages, undersea tidal turbines - like wind turbines but driven by the sea - and a variety of machines harnessing undersea currents are under development. Unlike wind and waves, tidal currents are entirely predictable.
• Disadvantages Although the oil industry has operated successfully in the North sea, the undersea environment is hostile so the machinery will have to be robust.

Solar

• Advantages If all the suitable surfaces on buildings in the UK were covered in photovoltaic cells they would generate enough electricity for the whole country. Because the energy can be used directly and there are no moving parts, maintenance is easy.
• Disadvantages Still an expensive technology, although unit costs will come down with mass production. Storing electricity is difficult so extra sources of energy are needed at night.

Biofuels

• Advantages These use energy that otherwise might be wasted, or convert hazardous gases into energy that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and create extra pollution - for example, methane from rubbish tips. Some of these technologies, like gas from landfills, already provide cheap power but others, like gas from household waste digesters, are only just reaching the market.
• Disadvantages None except that electricity generation from these technologies is only small scale.

Energy crops

• Advantages These can be grown on land which is marginal for other agriculture, and can make use of surplus straw, chicken litter and forestry waste. Custom grown coppiced trees can support a power station and provide a cash crop for farmers. Power output is predictable and can be geared to demand.
• Disadvantages Could potentially use large areas of land and create a monoculture of willow or other quick growing trees of little benefit to wildlife.

Hydro

• Advantages Large scale hydro already produces 1% of Britain's energy and it is already very cheap. Small scale hydro is economic and river flow can be reused again and again.
• Disadvantages Scope for more is almost non-existent because of public animosity toward new dams. Small scale schemes have a big future but will only make a small contribution to total energy needs.

How do you think we should work towards the Government's targets? Use our comments page to have your say.