Scotland sets biomass cap for ROCs

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Biomass support levels for renewables obligation certificates (Rocs) for wood fuelled biomass power stations has been unveiled by Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.

This follows a consultation launched by the Scottish Government in October to seek views on appropriate support levels.

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Wood fuelled biomass stations with an installed capacity greater than 15MW will only receive support under the renewables obligation if they operate as combined heat and power (CHP) stations.

Where stations lose their combined heat and power status, for example where a contract to provide heat ends, then those stations will remain eligible for reduced support under the renewables obligation for no more than five years. This should give them time to regain their CHP status.

RO support for other areas will mirror those announced in England by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Fergus Ewing said: “We have made clear our concerns over competition for a finite supply of wood, and our belief that there should be a greater focus on biomass in smaller scale energy projects wherever possible, and the responses to our consultation reflected that.

“We are taking action to address these points now, whereas the UK Government has ruled out placing any limits on biomass until installed capacity exceeds 400MW.

“We are removing support for these biomass stations over 15MW that do not provide good quality combined heat and power. This is a slightly higher ceiling than we had proposed, but our forecasts for additional supplies of wood in the marketplace mean that new capacity which might be built will not affect existing users.”