Government Response to the consultation on proposals to enhance the sustainability criteria for the use of biomass feedstocks under the Renewables Obligation (RO) has been published. The Renewables Obligation (RO) is currently the main financial mechanism by which the Government incentivises deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation.
On the one hand, on 7 September 2012, the Government published a consultation paper setting out proposals addressing biomass affordability and sustainability for the Renewables Obligation 1 (RO1). Part A of the consultation, covering improvements to the sustainability criteria that apply to the use of biomass for electricity generation under the RO, closed 30 November 2012. The consultation proposals mainly addressed the use of solid biomass and biogas feedstocks.
On the other hand, the Government consulted on the levels of banded support for renewable electricity generation for the period 2013-17 between 20 October 2011 and 12 January 2012. On 25 July 2012, the Government’s response to the consultation was published which indicated that it would be necessary to re-consult on a number of areas where further engagement with industry and relevant stakeholders was necessary to ensure the right evidence to fully implement the proposals.
Additionally, on 7 September 2012, the Government published two consultation papers setting out proposals for the RO for the period 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2017. One consultation addressed the levels of banded support for solar PV for this period and the other addressed biomass affordability and sustainability.
Please find attached the documents with the Government Response to all these consultations that set out the Government’s decisions on these matters.
RO_Biomass_Sustainability_consultation
Source: UK Government.