In this new regular column, Ian Draisey from Dulas -a welsh renewable energy company with 19 years experience in the industry at an international levelprovides a consultant's perspective on the status and future development of renewables. In the first installment he looks at the UK which is gearing up to implement much more renewable capacity. Buoyancy in the UK wholesale electricity prices, the damping How refreshing it is to write about the buoy-effect on the smaller, renewable generators ancy of the UK renewables market. In 20 was considerable. Changes to the principles years of technology development, turnkey of NETA, which could not be changed, can installation, market promotion and technical be expected now in April 2002. Such is the consultancy -rarely has the whole industry pressure from the industry. appeared so dynamic. D&s works across the With legislation for environmental regurange of RE markets, and appreciates how lation booming, businesses in the UK are important this inertia is to the continued fall now being taxed on their greenhouse gas of technology costs, which have in the past emissions and energy consumption and the deterred energy managers, policy makers and polluter pays principle forcing companies communities from considering renewables. to become responsible for packaging waste, NETA was responsible for a 20% fall in and for cleaning up contaminated land.