The European Union’s Renewables Directive (RD), which came into force in October 2001, proposes that Member States adopt national targets for renewables that are consistent with reaching the overall EU target of 12 per cent of energy (22.1 per cent of electricity) from renewables by 2010.

The proposed UK “share” of this target is that renewables source eligible under the RD should account for 10 per cent of UK electricity consumption by 2010.

In previous years wastes have been added in with renewables as a convenient place to record this fuel source. However, from this year the international definition of total renewables has been adopted and this excludes non-biodegradable wastes.

To date, the main instruments for pursuing the development of renewables capacity have been the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) Orders for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland (NI-NFFO), and Scottish Renewable Obligation (SRO) Orders; the term “NFFO Orders” is used is refer to these instruments collectively. These aimed to assist the renewables industry by allowing premium prices to be paid for electricity for a fixed period.

Since February 2000, however, the United Kingdom’s renewables policy has consisted of four key strands:

Further details may be found in the June issues of Energy Trends.

* Electricity generated by hydro stations with a declared net capacity of more than 10 MW is not exempt from the Climate Change Levy

Resource map of forestry residues for the UK (oven dried tonnes per annum - odt/pa)