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Renewable energy is set to provide 5% of the country鈥檚 electricity in 2010, up just one percentage point from the 4% recorded last year, says a study by Cambridge Econometrics. The government target anticipates 10% of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2010.

The study found, however, that with new policies in place, the UK could produce 12% of its electricity from renewables by 2015. This is short of the 15% Renewables Obligation target. But it is expected to reach 19% by 2020, almost meeting the government鈥檚 aspirations of a 20% share.

Next month, the government is expected to publish the outcome of a consultation on producing more renewable energy by targeting subsidies where they are most needed, rather than focusing on onshore wind farms.

Paul Ekins, senior consultant to Cambridge Econometrics, said: 鈥淚t is clear that these policies that give incentives to the development of non-carbon renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, are urgently needed. However, as the proposed changes require primary legislation, it is unfortunate for the government鈥檚 10% target that they can only be introduced in April 2009 at the earliest.鈥�

What鈥檚 more, the government is also likely to miss its target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2010.

However, the UK is on course to meet its targets to reduce emissions under the Kyoto protocol.

Ekins expected emissions to be 15% lower by 2020. Carbon emissions in the UK have not fallen since 2002.

He identified the main barriers to a low-carbon economy as higher transport and household emissions. Combined, these sectors are expected to rise to just under half of the UK鈥檚 CO2 emissions by 2010.