A ROUND-UP OF KEY POLICY ISSUES THIS QUARTER REQ
REA NEWS GENERAL ELECTION
REA & Action for Renewables set out the next government’s blueprint for green energy
In September the REA published its Manifesto, setting out in detail several key measures the next government should take to grow each renewable technology sector. The Manifesto has been built from the bottom up, with input from each of the REA’s 10 sector groups, as well as our colleagues at the Solar Trade Association, Wood Heat Association, Electricity Storage Network and REAL. Our Manifesto is complemented by a new pan- industry campaign under the umbrella Action for Renewables. This campaign focuses on the high level policies that are required to support the
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
Policy framework improving for biogas and biomethane
Biogas policies are changing fast! In the biomethane-to-grid sector, DECC has proposed changes to RHI tariffs and greenhouse gas rules to improve value for money and environmental performance. While the aims are laudable, the devil is in the detail! The specific proposals put jobs and investment in the sector at great risk. We have already obtained clarity on workable greenhouse gas rules and at the time of writing we are confident of a positive outcome on tariffs in the near future. On the feedstock front, biogas producers taking in fruit and vegetable by-products (e.g. leaves, roots and bruised/misshapen produce) no longer need to pay for permits or waste handling controls thanks to sustained REA
6 REQ RENEWABLE ENERGY QUARTERLY | |
Biogas policy is improving but FITs need further work
continued growth of the whole green energy sector. These include commitment to the Climate Change Act, a 2030 renewables target, a 2030 low carbon power target, expansion of the Renewable Heat Incentive and Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation and reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. This campaign has been developed and supported by a number of trade bodies across the renewables industry to present a united industry voice. Tell the leader of your political
party to support Action for Renewables by visiting
bit.ly/1wdRc8q
The next government will make or break the UK’s 2020 renewables target
campaigning. The Environment Agency has updated guidance to make it clear that these feedstocks are exempt from waste regulations, saving time and money for industry. The only area where things
WINTER 2014
are not changing fast is Feed-in Tariffs, with DECC refusing to make any changes before the election. Growth in small on- site and on farm plants will be severely restricted until the policy problems are addressed. The REA
is taking a twin-track approach, pushing for short-term measures now to help projects already in development and long-term measures after the election to fix the fundamental problems with the policy.
www.r-e-a.net
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