From October 2013 generating stations of 1 megawatt (MW)
capacity and above have been required to meet the following
sustainability criteria in order to receive Renewables Obligation
Certificates (ROCs) under the RO:
1) Green House Gas Savings
Biomass electricity must produce over 70% greenhouse gas savings
compared to fossil fuel alternatives.
2) Land Use Criteria
The criteria for sustainable forest management are based on a
range of issues such as:
- sustainable harvesting rates,
- biodiversity protection and
- land use rights for indigenous populations.
From April 2015, the biomass industry will be required to
demonstrate their fuel is sustainable or lose financial support
under the RO.
Organisations who do not comply with the new requirements could
see financial support withheld.
All generators of 1 Megawatt (MW) capacity or more using solid
biomass or biogas feedstock will be required to demonstrate that
they are meeting the criteria in order to claim support under the
Renewables Obligation. This would cover around 98% of all biomass
power generation in the UK.
Generators of 1MW capacity and above must provide an independent
sustainability audit with their annual sustainability report.
Ofgem has produced guidance on how to comply with
sustainability criteria, for further information
click here