The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) (ROS) was introduced in
Scotland in April 2002 to encourage generation of electricity from
eligible renewable sources. It has been the main support scheme for
renewable electricity projects across Scotland. The ROS provides
revenue support for biomass electricity generation.
In April 2010, the Department of Energy and Climate Change
(DECC) implemented the Feed In Tariff (FIT), which is designed to
incentivise small scale (less than 5MW), low carbon electricity
generation. This complements the Renewables Obligation for large
scale generators and will work alongside the Renewable Heat
Incentive. The FIT does not currently cover electricity generation
from biomass combustion (anaerobic digestion is eligible). For
further information upon FITs please see the DECC or the Energy
Savings Trust.
Ofgem administers both the ROS and the Feed In Tariff and
further information is available on their website.
Renewable Obligations Certificates
The ROS places an obligation on UK suppliers of electricity to
source a proportion of their electricity from renewable sources,
through Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs). This proportion
increases each year and is 0.111 ROCs per MWh for 2010/11 (around
11%) increasing to 0.124 ROCs for 2011/12. The scheme is currently
worth around £1.42 billion/year in support to the renewable
electricity industry.
A ROC is a green certificate issued to an accredited generator
for eligible renewable electricity generated within the United
Kingdom and supplied to customers within the United Kingdom by a
licensed electricity supplier. Initially 1 ROC was issued for each
megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible renewable output generated, then in
2009 banding was introduced to target support towards new
technologies. The bands for biomass electricity generation are:
| Technologies |
Level of Support (ROCs/MWh) |
| Co-firing on non-energy crop (regular) biomass |
0.5 |
|
Co-firing of energy crops
Co-firing on non-energy crop (regular biomass with CHP)
|
1.0 |
|
Co-firing of energy crops with CHP
Dedicated regular biomass 1.5
|
1.5 |
|
Fuels made using anaerobic digestion, advanced gasification or
pyrolysis
Dedicated biomass burning energy crops (with or without CHP)
Dedicated regular biomass with CHP |
2.0 |
The levels of banding are reviewed at regular intervals with the
next review due to implemented in April 2013. DECC have started
work on the banding review and will consult on proposed changes to
the RO in England & Wales next year. The Scottish Government
will carry out a separate consultation on proposed changes to the
ROS in Scotland.
Listed below are some useful links.
Scottish
Government
DECC Renewables
Obligation
Ofgem
E-ROC
DECC Feed in Tariff
Energy
Savings Trust