Consultation outcome

Changes to grandfathering policy with respect to future biomass co-firing and conversion projects in the Renewables Obligation

• From: Department of Energy & Climate Change
• Published: 10 December 2014
• Last updated: 22 July 2015 — See all updates

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Government response to consultation on changes to grandfathering policy: future biomass co-firing and conversion projects in the RO

Ref: 15D/365

PDF, 525 KB, 30 pages

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Detail of outcome

In response to the consultation on changes to grandfathering policy for future biomass co-firing and conversion projects in the Renewables Obligation, the government has decided to make the following changes :

• the support rate under the RO for new biomass conversion and co-firing stations and combustion units should no longer be covered by Government’s grandfathering policy. This policy change will also apply to generating stations or combustion units that are already receiving support under the RO and move for the first time into the mid-range co- firing , high-range co-firing or biomass conversion bands;
• Exceptions will apply to protect those who have already made significant financial commitments. These cover
  • any station or combustion unit that is the subject of an investment contract awarded through the Final Investment Decision Enabling for Renewables (FIDeR) process and is awaiting State Aid clearance;
  • or any station or combustion unit which has moved into the mid or high-range co-firing bands and generated electricity eligible for ROCs under these bands in any month before 12 December 2014.

These changes to grandfathering policy will take effect from the date of the publication of the consultation document (12 December 2014).

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Original consultation

Summary

Seeking views on the proposal that the support rate under the Renewables Obligation for future biomass co-firing and conversion projects should no longer be covered by our grandfathering policy.

This consultation ran from
10am on 10 December 2014 to 11:45pm on 26 January 2015

Consultation description

The consultation proposes:

• that the support rate under the Renewables Obligation (RO) for future biomass co-firing and conversion projects should no longer be covered by our grandfathering policy; and that this change would apply to combustion units that move into the mid-range, high-range co-firing or biomass conversion bands under the RO

• that the changes would take effect from the date of the publication of this consultation document

• Grace periods for any combustion unit that:

  • is the subject of an investment contract awarded through the FIDeR process, where that contract is terminated under the State aid condition in the contract because of a negative or conditional State aid decision, or a delay in a State aid decision being obtained; or
  • has in any month before the publication of this document moved into the mid-range or high-range co-firing bands

Documents

Consultation on changes to grandfathering policy with respect to future biomass co-firing and conversion projects in the Renewables Obligation

Ref: 14D/459

PDF, 232 KB, 13 pages

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Published 10 December 2014
Last updated 22 July 2015 + show all updates

1. 22 July 2015

   Government response published.

2. 10 December 2014

   First published.