^{Date:              18 November 2008
Embargo:       None}

SESA: Changes to Scottish Renewable Obligation

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on proposed changes to the Renewable Obligation (Scotland) (ROS) to introduce banding. Banding is the grouping together of particular technologies into separate bands which offer varying levels of Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) support.

There are key variations in the Scottish Government’s approach to ROS banding compared with the rest of the UK. In England, EfW with Combined Heat and Power (CHP) should continue to receive support within the reference band of 1ROC/MWh whilst advanced conversion technologies, whose costs remain particularly high, are included within the emerging technology band and would receive 2 ROCs/MWh.

However, the Scottish Government intends to develop a more stringent approach, and proposes that advanced conversion technologies would only be eligible for the higher banding of support (2 ROCs/MWh) if such plants were also fitted with CHP and operated in line with SEPA’s proposed thermal treatment guidelines.

SESA will press the Scottish Government to ensure ROC eligibility promotes investment in advanced conversion technologies to help Scotland meet its twin goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and landfill diversion targets.

Scottish Waste Steering Group

The Scottish Government has invited Mr Stephen Freeland of the Scottish ESA to join a steering group to oversee preparation of Scotland’s new National Waste Management Plan. The Scottish Government predicts that it will take up to eighteen months to prepare the new Plan and aims to have a first draft available for consultation by April 2009.

ENDS