Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what ex-ante assessment and evaluations his Department made of the effectiveness of the Renewables Obligation Certificates scheme during the period of its implementation.

The Renewables Obligation (RO) has been reviewed and updated several times since it was introduced in 2002. The scheme underwent a major reform in 2009 to bring forward more renewable generation through the introduction of banded support for different technologies and to increase the scheme's effectiveness. The reforms were set out in the Government Response to the Statutory Consultation on the Renewables Obligation Order 2009 published by DECC in December 2008. A copy can be found on the National Archives web page: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090203212240/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file49342.pdf

The RO has been very effective in supporting the deployment of new renewable generation. By the end of 2013, renewables represented 14.9 per cent of all UK electricity generation, 82 per cent of which was contributed by stations accredited under the RO.

DECC implemented revised RO support levels in April 2013 following a comprehensive review. The new support levels, which apply until the RO closes to new capacity at the end of March 2017, will ensure that the scheme continues to drive an increase in renewable electricity deployment while delivering value for money for consumers. The relevant documents are available on the gov.uk web site:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/renewables-obligation-banding-review.