UK to lift 5-MW FiT cap for community-owned renewables

Jul 4, 2013 - The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on Wednesday outlined plans to accept community renewable energy projects bigger than 5 MW under its feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme.

In a press release the government said that the planned changes have been triggered by feedback from community groups on the kind of incentive that "works best for them".

At present, community clean energy projects with capacities higher than 5 MW are supported under the country's Renewables Obligation (RO) and do not get FiTs. Such green energy generators receive Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) per each MWh generated in contrast to FiT programmes which ensure premium rates at which the output of renewable power plants is sold. The DECC now intends to lift the threshold for community renewable energy projects under its FiT programme to support the construction of larger facilities. The changes to the FiT scheme will be adopted when the country's Energy Bill comes into force.

“The expansion of our reformed Feed-in Tariff will encourage even more communities to get on board”, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said.

The British government last week opened a GBP-15-million (USD 22.9m/EUR 17.6m) renewable community energy fund for applications, seeking to help cover the expenses for conduction feasibility studies and obtaining planning permissions.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.524/EUR 1.173)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!