Wind Power: Renewables Obligation
(asked on 23rd November 2016) - View Source
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many applications were made under the renewables obligation for (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind; and what the annual cost to the public purse was of each of those subsidies between 2010 and 2016.
The number of applications approved for accreditation under the renewables obligation (RO) for onshore and offshore wind projects in the UK between the financial years 2010/11 to 2015/16 were:
Technology | Total number of applications for accreditation between 2010/11 and 2015/16 |
Micro onshore wind projects up to and including 50kW capacity | 142 |
Onshore wind projects above 50kW capacity | 590 |
Offshore wind projects | 17 |
Source: Ofgem:
RO accredited stations list (downloaded 24 November 2016): https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/ReportManager.aspx?ReportVisibility=1&ReportCategory=0
The costs of the RO are reclaimed from electricity consumers, not from general taxation. The annual costs of supporting onshore and offshore wind through the RO from 2010/11 to 2015/16, in £ million nominal prices were:
RO costs £/million | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 | 2015/16 |
Onshore wind | £397.8 | £482.6 | £557.1 | £755.6 | £786.8 | £803.0 |
Offshore wind | £253.9 | £371.1 | £698.5 | £988.7 | £1,108.0 | £1,429.7 |
Source: Ofgem:
Renewables Obligation library: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/ro/contacts-publications-and-data/publications-library-renewables-obligation-ro
Renewables Obligation Annual Report 2014-15: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/renewables-obligation-ro-annual-report-2014-15
Renewables Obligation register and compliance certificates report: https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/ReportManager.aspx?ReportVisibility=1&ReportCategory=0