UNITED KINGDOM

To ensure the diversity of electricity generating capacity, the UK Government instituted the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation Orders (NFFO) for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland (NI NFFO) and the Scottish Renewables Obligation (SRO). The orders were collectively known as the Renewables Obligations. Four Orders were made in England and Wales (1990, 1991, 1995, 1997), two in Scotland (1994, 1997) and two in Northern Ireland (1994, 1996).

The Utilities Act 2000 makes substantial changes to the regulatory system for electricity in Great Britain. The Act replaces the existing NFFO, but contains provisions to preserve existing NFFO contracts for the rest of their term. The Government will be able to impose an obligation on suppliers that a specified proportion of the electricity they supply must be generated from renewable sources. This obligation will be supported by a system of tradable "Green certificates" (e.g. a supplier which is unable to fulfil its obligation itself can do so by purchasing a certificate from a supplier which has over-achieved). It is expected that the obligation imposed will increase gradually year-by-year to enable the Government’s targets for renewables - 5% of electricity by 2003, and 10% by 2010 – to be achieved.

At the end of 1999, 281 wind-power projects representing 2 676 MW of capacity had been contracted for under NFFO. However, only 19 MW of new capacity was commissioned during the year, bringing the total operational capacity to 60 wind schemes (both windfarms and single turbines), with 779 turbines representing 344 MW. The low deployment rate reflects the difficulties encountered by developers in gaining planning consent.

In December 2000, the UK’s first offshore wind turbines off the coast of north-east England were officially opened. The Blyth windfarm has two 2 MW turbines and is expected to have an annual output of 10 000 MWh. It is linked with the existing 2.7 MW windfarm (9 x 300 kW) turbines lined along the Blyth harbour wall.

As part of its consultation document: New and Renewable Energy – Prospects for the 21st Century, the Government has announced its intention that each of the 11 regions of the UK will take a percentage share of the target for renewables (8 regions, excluding London, in England totalling 44%, plus Wales at 8%, Scotland at 39% and Northern Ireland at 9%). It has been prescribed that suitable sites should have a wind speed of at least 7 m/s, but exact locations for turbines will not be centrally determined. Rather, each region’s local governments will take the decision of where to locate the installations, with the anticipation that the wind energy programme can move ahead more positively.

COUNTRY NOTES (WIND ENERGY)

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