The UK Government is to increase its spending on research into renewable forms of energy as part of its plans to tackle global warming.

Tim Hirsch: Renewable power only represents a tiny fraction of the industry

Research and development spending is to rise to £43 million over the next three years, to investigate the potential of wind and solar energy and other non-polluting forms.

The government has pledged to generate 10% of UK electricity renewably within a decade, because of fears that fossil fuels like oil are heating the atmosphere.

A step along the road

The Energy Minister, John Battle, announcing the publication of a consultation paper on the prospects for renewable energy, said the 10% target "should not be seen as an end in itself".

Mr Battle said the target should be simply "a step forward on the road to making renewables a strong, world-beating industry".

"The UK industry employs 3,500 people. Through creating an export drive, and by further developing the industry and the UK market, up to 45,000 jobs could be created."

He said the paper showed there was tremendous potential for renewables to become a fully competitive part of the UK's energy supply.

Wave energy's potential is to be explored

And they would be vital in helping the government to reach its target of reducing greenhouse gases by 12.5% by 2012, and carbon dioxide emissions, in particular, by 20% by 2010.

The consultation paper offers options for possible ways to support renewables while they are reaching market prices.

Mr Battle also announced the launch of a new wave power programme, which will assess whether wave energy technology can be successfully developed.

Three pilot wave energy projects in Scotland have attracted funding to allow the technology to be evaluated.

Demands for more

Crop energy and even the recyling of waste could join wind, wave and solar power as viable sources of energy.

But green pressure groups have said that the government's plans are "too little, too late".

Greenpeace has said that much more than 10% of the UK's energy must come from greener methods if it is to make any real difference to the problem of climate change.