The widely-anticipated government announcement regarding Renewables Obligation Certification (ROC) levels has been delayed. The announcement was anticipated prior to Parliament’s summer recess on 17 July but has been delayed due to pending reviews on its final details.
The ROC requires UK energy suppliers to increase the share of sustainable energy they supply as part of the UK’s goal of transferring 15 per cent of its energy consumption to sustainable resources. A programme of subsidies (to be paid in the form of Renewables Obligation Certificates) will be available through 2017 to support renewable energy projects to fulfil the obligation.
“We have not yet finalised the details of the final banding review, so that’s essentially why we haven’t published it”, said a Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) spokesperson speaking to Resource.
The spokesperson went on to assure worried industry executives, who fear that the delay is causing renewable energy investors to lose confidence in the industry, by saying that the ROC will be worth the wait.
“We need to get the detail of this scheme right – because yes, we’ve got to bring forward investment – but we’ve got to take into account the fact that energy consumers are the ones that pay for the support for renewables as part of their bills”, the spokesperson said.
Though the announcement could come prior to Parliament reconvening in October, details of a specific date for the announcement have not yet been disclosed, though the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Edward Davey, recently stated in a parliamentary committee that the department is seeking to publish as soon as possible.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.