Environmentalists have urged ministers not to “wriggle” out of tough new European targets for renewable energy by including overseas schemes and projects that have not been completed.

The government hopes to burnish its green credentials by unveiling a consultation document on Thursday, seeking views on how to hit the target of achieving 15 per cent of the UK’s total energy from renewables by 2020. The business department refused to comment on the paper on Sunday.

Gordon Brown warned on Sunday at an energy crisis conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, that it would cost £100bn ($197bn) for Britain to meet the European Union’s renewable energy target. ... Read full article