This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Moves to strengthen renewables market
10/09/2004
A consultation on proposals to increase the obligation
on Scottish electricity suppliers to provide renewable
electricity was announced today.
The Executive, in seeking to raise the current
obligation levels from 10.4% by 2010-11 to 15.4% by
2015-16, aims to secure confidence in and attract new
investors to the Scottish renewables sector.
The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) requires
electricity suppliers to provide an increasing share of
power from renewable sources.
Deputy Enterprise Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"The Executive is committed to promoting a wide range of
renewable energy sources, thus securing economic and
environmental benefits for Scotland.
"The Renewables Obligation Scotland is designed to
create a renewables market for the long term. It is
operating very effectively, and it is vital that we ensure
its continued ability to do so.
"The proposed increases in the obligation levels should
maintain investor confidence, which is vital to the
continued growth of a renewables industry in Scotland.
"We are also consulting on additional measures to
address risk in the market, proposals for UK trading in
renewable obligation certificates and steps to increase
flexibility for smaller generators.
"I hope that as many of our stakeholders as possible are
able to respond to this consultation exercise."
The Renewables Obligation (Scotland), or ROS, compels
licensed suppliers to provide increasing proportions of
their electricity from renewable sources and applies until
2027. Suppliers have to provide evidence to the regulator
(Ofgem) in the form of renewable obligation certificates
that they are meeting their obligations.
The ROS operates in tandem with an identical Renewables
Obligation covering England and Wales. Changes to both GB
Obligations are being consulted upon concurrently.