Renewables Obligation
Encyclopedia
The Renewables Obligation (RO) is designed to encourage generation of electricity
from eligible renewable sources
in the United Kingdom. It was introduced in England and Wales
and in a different form (the Renewables Obligation (Scotland)) in Scotland
in April 2002 and in Northern Ireland
in April 2005, replacing the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation
which operated from 1990.
The RO places an obligation on licensed electricity suppliers in the United Kingdom to source an increasing proportion of electricity from renewable sources, similar to a renewable portfolio standard
. In 2010/11 it is 11.1% (4.0% in Northern Ireland). This figure was initially set at 3% for the period 2002/03 and under current political commitments will rise to 15.4% (6.3% in Northern Ireland) by the period 2015/16 and then it runs until 2037 (2033 in Northern Ireland). The extension of the scheme from 2027 to 2037 was declared on 1 April 2010 and is detailed in the NREAP (National Renewable Energy Action Plan). Since its introduction the RO has more than tripled the level of eligible renewable electricity generation (from 1.8% of total UK supply to 7.0% in 2010).
Suppliers meet their obligations by presenting Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs). Where suppliers do not have sufficient ROCs to cover their obligation, a payment is made into the buy-out fund. The buy-out price suppliers pay is a fixed price per MWh
shortfall and is adjusted in line with the Retail Prices Index
each year. The proceeds of the buy-out fund are paid back to suppliers in proportion to how many ROCs they have presented. For example, if they were to submit 5% of the total number of ROCs submitted they would receive 5% of the total funds that defaulting supply companies pay into the buy-out fund.
ROCs are intended to create a market, and be traded at market prices that differ from the official buy-out price. If there is an excess of renewable production, beyond the supplier obligation, the price of ROCs would fall below the buy-out price. The price of ROCs could approach zero if renewable and non-renewable generation costs became similar, when there would be little or no subsidy of renewable generation. If there is less renewable production than the obligation, the price of ROCs would increase above the buy-out price, as purchasers anticipate later payments from the buy-out fund on each ROC.
Obligation periods run for one year, beginning on 1 April and running to 31 March. Supply companies have until the 31 September following the period to submit sufficient ROCs to cover their obligation, or to submit sufficient payment to the buy-out fund to cover the shortfall.
The cost of ROCs is effectively paid by electricity consumers of supply companies that fail to present sufficient ROC's, whilst reducing the cost to consumers of supply companies who submit large numbers of ROC's, assuming that all costs and savings are passed on to consumers.
Sources:
The default is that one ROC is issued for each megawatt-hour (MWh) of eligible renewable output. Some technologies get more, some less. For instance, offshore wind installations receive 2 ROCs per MWh; onshore wind installations receive 1 ROC per MWh and sewage gas-fired plants receive half a ROC per MWh. ROCs are issued into the ROC Register and so are electronic certificates.
gives the Secretary of State
the power to require electricity suppliers to supply a certain proportion of their total sales in the United Kingdom from electricity generated from renewable sources. A Renewables Obligation Order is issued annually detailing the precise level of the obligation for the coming year-long period of obligation and the level of the buy-out price. The Renewables Obligation (England and Wales) was introduced by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) was introduced by the Scottish Executive
s and the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation was introduced by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETINI). The Orders were subject to review in 2005/06 and new Orders came into effect on 1 April 2006. The relevant pieces of legislation for the period April 2006-March 2007 are:
All pieces of legislation are published on the Office of Public Sector Information website http://www.opsi.gov.uk.
Ofgem also administers the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) on behalf of the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (NIAER).
Co-firing of biomass is also eligible. Not all technologies which are eligible will actually be supported due to cost. Some renewable sources of electricity are not eligible for ROCs (e.g. larger hydroelectric schemes which were in operation before April 2002).
On 22 January 2007, Ofgem called for the Renewables Obligation to be replaced, claiming that the scheme is a 'very costly way' of supporting renewable electricity generation http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Media/PressRel/Documents1/16662-R5.pdf. In particular they are concerned that electricity customers pay for renewables projects even if they are not built due to problems obtaining planning permission
, and the failure of the Renewables Obligation to link financial support for renewables to either the electricity price or the price of renewables in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.
The British Wind Energy Association
, whose members are major beneficiaries of the existing scheme, claims that Ofgem is partly responsible for the costs because it has failed to prioritise work on the National Grid which would allow more renewable capacity to be connected. They also stressed the need to maintain stability in the marketplace to maintain the confidence of investors http://www.newbuilder.co.uk/news/newsFullStory.asp?ID=1798.
The concerns of both bodies seem to be shared by the Renewable Energy Association
http://www.r-p-a.org.uk/article_default_view.fcm?articleid=2337&subsite=1.
The Scottish Wind Assessment Project has criticised the scheme for rewarding reductions in renewable electricity output: two electricity suppliers, Scottish and Southern Energy and Npower
, down-rated several large hydro-power stations in order to qualify for Renewables Obligation Certificates http://www.swap.org.uk/Documents/Reports/Subsidies_and_Subterfuge.pdf.
The Renewables Obligation is a market-based mechanism designed to incentivise the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources over more traditional alternatives at a reasonable cost to the consumer.
When it was first introduced in 2002, each form of renewable energy technology received the same level of support, namely one ROC/MWh of electricity generated. This was a conscious decision as the Government was keen to promote a market-led approach, emphasising competition between technologies to minimise cost, and did not want to distort the market by appearing to place the importance of certain technologies above others.
As a result, whilst being ostensibly technology-neutral, the Renewables Obligation in its original form in fact favoured the deployment of the more established, near-market technologies such as landfill gas and onshore wind, those which were most economically efficient, over less well developed technologies that were further from commercial viability.
A review of the performance of the Renewables Obligation was announced in the 2003. Modelling of future deployment scenarios indicated that targets would not be met with current levels of support due to constraints on the availability and deployment of the most established technologies. A significant contribution would therefore be required from less mature technologies which lacked sufficient incentive to develop into feasible alternatives under the original scheme.
The Government announced its intention to reform the Renewables Obligation in 2006. Banding was introduced in 2009 to provide differing levels of support to groups of technologies depending upon their relative maturity, development cost and associated risk. Whilst increasing the incentive for technologies in the early stages of development this also allowed the level of support for well established technologies to be reduced to avoid over-subsidisation.
In reforming the Renewables Obligation in this way, and scheduling regular future reviews, the Government recognised that the market would not deliver the mix of renewable energy generation required to meet the targets if the incentives remained technology-neutral. It was therefore necessary for the Government to perform a continuing strategic role and retain the capability to intervene if necessary. The introduction of banding allowed the Government to steer industry towards investment in less well developed forms of renewable energy to enable them to contribute to meeting the long-term targets, rather than concentrating investment in technologies that are economically favourable in the short-term.
The Government is currently reviewing the banding levels so that appropriate incentives for the period 2013-2017 can be set. A consultation on the proposals, which include a reduction in the tariff for onshore wind to 0.9 ROCs/MWh and an increase for wave and tidal to 5 ROCs/MWh, is currently underway.
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
from eligible renewable sources
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
in the United Kingdom. It was introduced in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
and in a different form (the Renewables Obligation (Scotland)) in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in April 2002 and in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in April 2005, replacing the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation
Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation
The Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation refers to a collection of orders requiring the electricity Distribution Network Operators in England and Wales to purchase electricity from the nuclear power and renewable energy sectors...
which operated from 1990.
The RO places an obligation on licensed electricity suppliers in the United Kingdom to source an increasing proportion of electricity from renewable sources, similar to a renewable portfolio standard
Renewable Portfolio Standard
A Renewable Portfolio Standard is a regulation that requires the increased production of energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal...
. In 2010/11 it is 11.1% (4.0% in Northern Ireland). This figure was initially set at 3% for the period 2002/03 and under current political commitments will rise to 15.4% (6.3% in Northern Ireland) by the period 2015/16 and then it runs until 2037 (2033 in Northern Ireland). The extension of the scheme from 2027 to 2037 was declared on 1 April 2010 and is detailed in the NREAP (National Renewable Energy Action Plan). Since its introduction the RO has more than tripled the level of eligible renewable electricity generation (from 1.8% of total UK supply to 7.0% in 2010).
Suppliers meet their obligations by presenting Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs). Where suppliers do not have sufficient ROCs to cover their obligation, a payment is made into the buy-out fund. The buy-out price suppliers pay is a fixed price per MWh
MWH
MWH may stand for:* International Air Transport Association airport code for Grant County International Airport* MWH Global, an international water engineering consultancy* Men Without Hats, a Canadian New Wave band...
shortfall and is adjusted in line with the Retail Prices Index
Retail Prices Index (United Kingdom)
In the United Kingdom, the Retail Prices Index or Retail Price Index is a measure of inflation published monthly by the Office for National Statistics. It measures the change in the cost of a basket of retail goods and services.-History:...
each year. The proceeds of the buy-out fund are paid back to suppliers in proportion to how many ROCs they have presented. For example, if they were to submit 5% of the total number of ROCs submitted they would receive 5% of the total funds that defaulting supply companies pay into the buy-out fund.
ROCs are intended to create a market, and be traded at market prices that differ from the official buy-out price. If there is an excess of renewable production, beyond the supplier obligation, the price of ROCs would fall below the buy-out price. The price of ROCs could approach zero if renewable and non-renewable generation costs became similar, when there would be little or no subsidy of renewable generation. If there is less renewable production than the obligation, the price of ROCs would increase above the buy-out price, as purchasers anticipate later payments from the buy-out fund on each ROC.
Obligation periods run for one year, beginning on 1 April and running to 31 March. Supply companies have until the 31 September following the period to submit sufficient ROCs to cover their obligation, or to submit sufficient payment to the buy-out fund to cover the shortfall.
The cost of ROCs is effectively paid by electricity consumers of supply companies that fail to present sufficient ROC's, whilst reducing the cost to consumers of supply companies who submit large numbers of ROC's, assuming that all costs and savings are passed on to consumers.
ROC Percentages and Prices by Year
| Obligation period | % of Supply | Price (£/MWh) | Effective Price per Unit (p/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 | 3.0 | £30.00 | 0.09 |
| 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 | 4.3 | £30.51 | 0.13 |
| 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 | 4.9 | £31.39 | 0.15 |
| 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 | 5.5 | £32.33 | 0.18 |
| 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 | 6.7 | £33.24 | 0.22 |
| 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 | 7.9 | £34.30 | 0.29 |
| 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 | 9.1 | £35.76 | 0.33 |
| 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 | 9.7 | £37.19 | 0.36 |
| 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 | 11.1 | £36.99 | 0.41 |
| 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 | 12.4 | £38.69 | 0.XX |
Sources:
Renewables Obligation Certificates
A ROC is the green certificate issued for eligible renewable electricity generated within the United Kingdom and supplied to customers in the United Kingdom by a licensed supplier. ROCs are issued by Ofgem to accredited renewable generators (or in the case of generating stations subject to a NFFO (non-fossil fuels obligation), Scottish Renewables Obligation or Northern Ireland NFFO contract, to the nominated electricity supplier). It is worth noting that the Scottish Renewables Obligation was superseded by the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) in 2002.The default is that one ROC is issued for each megawatt-hour (MWh) of eligible renewable output. Some technologies get more, some less. For instance, offshore wind installations receive 2 ROCs per MWh; onshore wind installations receive 1 ROC per MWh and sewage gas-fired plants receive half a ROC per MWh. ROCs are issued into the ROC Register and so are electronic certificates.
The legislation
The Utilities Act 2000Utilities Act 2000
The Utilities Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that deals with the gas and electrical markets in the UK. It mainly modified the Gas Act 1995 and Electricity Act 1989. One of the greatest changes was that integrated electricity companies were required to have separate...
gives the Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
the power to require electricity suppliers to supply a certain proportion of their total sales in the United Kingdom from electricity generated from renewable sources. A Renewables Obligation Order is issued annually detailing the precise level of the obligation for the coming year-long period of obligation and the level of the buy-out price. The Renewables Obligation (England and Wales) was introduced by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) was introduced by the Scottish Executive
Scottish Executive
The Scottish Government is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was established in 1999 as the Scottish Executive, from the extant Scottish Office, and the term Scottish Executive remains its legal name under the Scotland Act 1998...
s and the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation was introduced by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETINI). The Orders were subject to review in 2005/06 and new Orders came into effect on 1 April 2006. The relevant pieces of legislation for the period April 2006-March 2007 are:
- The Renewables Obligation Order 2006 (Statutory Instrument (SI) 2006 No. 1004)
- The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2006 (SI 2006 No. 173), and
- The Renewables Obligation Order (Northern Ireland) 2006 (SI 2006 No. 56).
All pieces of legislation are published on the Office of Public Sector Information website http://www.opsi.gov.uk.
Ofgem’s role
The Orders detail Ofgem's powers and functions to administer the Renewables Obligation. These functions include:- Accrediting generating stations as being capable of generating electricity from eligible renewable sources
- Issuing ROCs and revoking these as necessary
- Establishing and maintaining a Register of ROCs
- Monitoring compliance with the requirements of the Orders
- Calculating annually the buy-out price
- Receiving buy-out payments and redistributing the buy-out fund
- Receiving late payments and redistributing the late payment fund, and
- Publishing an annual report on the operation of and compliance with the requirements of the Orders.
Ofgem also administers the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) on behalf of the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (NIAER).
Types of energy eligible
The following sources of electricity are able to attract ROCs:- BiogasBiogasBiogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...
from anaerobic digestionAnaerobic digestionAnaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. It is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste and/or to release energy.... - BiomassBiomassBiomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
- Hydro electric
- Tidal powerTidal powerTidal power, also called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of power - mainly electricity....
- Wind powerWind powerWind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
- Photovoltaic cells
- Landfill gasLandfill gasLandfill gas is a complex mix of different gases created by the action of microorganisms within a landfill.-Production:Landfill gas production results from chemical reactions and microbes acting upon the waste as the putrescible materials begins to break down in the landfill...
- Sewage gas
- Wave powerWave powerWave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work — for example, electricity generation, water desalination, or the pumping of water...
Co-firing of biomass is also eligible. Not all technologies which are eligible will actually be supported due to cost. Some renewable sources of electricity are not eligible for ROCs (e.g. larger hydroelectric schemes which were in operation before April 2002).
Government review
The scheme is currently being reviewed by Government http://www.bwea.com/media/news/070105.html following a consultation period that finished in September 2007. The document at the centre of the consultation set out an amended form of the RO which will see different technologies earn different numbers of ROCs. This has not yet been adopted as policy.On 22 January 2007, Ofgem called for the Renewables Obligation to be replaced, claiming that the scheme is a 'very costly way' of supporting renewable electricity generation http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Media/PressRel/Documents1/16662-R5.pdf. In particular they are concerned that electricity customers pay for renewables projects even if they are not built due to problems obtaining planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
, and the failure of the Renewables Obligation to link financial support for renewables to either the electricity price or the price of renewables in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.
The British Wind Energy Association
British Wind Energy Association
'RenewableUK', formerly known as the 'British Wind Energy Association' , is the trade association for wind power, wave power and tidal power industries in the United Kingdom...
, whose members are major beneficiaries of the existing scheme, claims that Ofgem is partly responsible for the costs because it has failed to prioritise work on the National Grid which would allow more renewable capacity to be connected. They also stressed the need to maintain stability in the marketplace to maintain the confidence of investors http://www.newbuilder.co.uk/news/newsFullStory.asp?ID=1798.
The concerns of both bodies seem to be shared by the Renewable Energy Association
Renewable Energy Association
The Renewable Energy Association is the main trade association for the renewables industry in the UK.-History:It was formed in 2001 as the Renewable Power Association, changing to its current name in October 2005. The organisation used to be based on Waterloo Place.-Structure:It is the largest, by...
http://www.r-p-a.org.uk/article_default_view.fcm?articleid=2337&subsite=1.
The Scottish Wind Assessment Project has criticised the scheme for rewarding reductions in renewable electricity output: two electricity suppliers, Scottish and Southern Energy and Npower
Npower (UK)
RWE Npower plc is a UK-based electricity and gas supply generation company, formerly known as Innogy plc. As Innogy plc it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
, down-rated several large hydro-power stations in order to qualify for Renewables Obligation Certificates http://www.swap.org.uk/Documents/Reports/Subsidies_and_Subterfuge.pdf.
Banding of the Renewables Obligation
The Renewables Obligation represents the UK Government’s main policy measure for stimulating the growth of electricity generation from renewable sourcesDTI. (2007). ‘Reform of the Renewables Obligation’, May 2007. The Government envisages that 30% of electricity demand will need to be generated by renewable sources in order for the UK to meet a legally binding EU target of obtaining 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020.The Renewables Obligation is a market-based mechanism designed to incentivise the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources over more traditional alternatives at a reasonable cost to the consumer.
When it was first introduced in 2002, each form of renewable energy technology received the same level of support, namely one ROC/MWh of electricity generated. This was a conscious decision as the Government was keen to promote a market-led approach, emphasising competition between technologies to minimise cost, and did not want to distort the market by appearing to place the importance of certain technologies above others.
As a result, whilst being ostensibly technology-neutral, the Renewables Obligation in its original form in fact favoured the deployment of the more established, near-market technologies such as landfill gas and onshore wind, those which were most economically efficient, over less well developed technologies that were further from commercial viability.
A review of the performance of the Renewables Obligation was announced in the 2003. Modelling of future deployment scenarios indicated that targets would not be met with current levels of support due to constraints on the availability and deployment of the most established technologies. A significant contribution would therefore be required from less mature technologies which lacked sufficient incentive to develop into feasible alternatives under the original scheme.
The Government announced its intention to reform the Renewables Obligation in 2006. Banding was introduced in 2009 to provide differing levels of support to groups of technologies depending upon their relative maturity, development cost and associated risk. Whilst increasing the incentive for technologies in the early stages of development this also allowed the level of support for well established technologies to be reduced to avoid over-subsidisation.
In reforming the Renewables Obligation in this way, and scheduling regular future reviews, the Government recognised that the market would not deliver the mix of renewable energy generation required to meet the targets if the incentives remained technology-neutral. It was therefore necessary for the Government to perform a continuing strategic role and retain the capability to intervene if necessary. The introduction of banding allowed the Government to steer industry towards investment in less well developed forms of renewable energy to enable them to contribute to meeting the long-term targets, rather than concentrating investment in technologies that are economically favourable in the short-term.
The Government is currently reviewing the banding levels so that appropriate incentives for the period 2013-2017 can be set. A consultation on the proposals, which include a reduction in the tariff for onshore wind to 0.9 ROCs/MWh and an increase for wave and tidal to 5 ROCs/MWh, is currently underway.
See also
- Future EnergyFuture EnergyFuture Energy is a former accreditation scheme for green electricity in the United Kingdom, designed to support and stimulate electricity generation from renewable energy sources...
(former green electricity accreditation scheme) - Green electricity
- Green tagsGreen tagsRenewable Energy Certificates , also known as Green tags, Renewable Energy Credits, Renewable Electricity Certificates, or Tradable Renewable Certificates , are tradable, non-tangible energy commodities in the United States that represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour of electricity was generated...
- Non-Fossil Fuel ObligationNon-Fossil Fuel ObligationThe Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation refers to a collection of orders requiring the electricity Distribution Network Operators in England and Wales to purchase electricity from the nuclear power and renewable energy sectors...
- Renewable Energy Certificates (United States) - a similar mechanism in the US
- United Kingdom Climate Change ProgrammeUnited Kingdom Climate Change ProgrammeThe United Kingdom's Climate Change Programme was launched in November 2000 by the British government in response to its commitment agreed at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development...
External links
- 8 January 2007, New Builder: BWEA warns on UK renewables policy as Germany leads the way
- 9 October 2006, ePolitix.com: Granting of renewables obligation certificates to be reformed
- 9 August 2006, Guardian UnlimitedThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
: Tickell, O: Treasury takes £150m out of renewable energy fund