Legal sources on renewable energy

United Kingdom: Overview of legal framework

Overview of Promotion system

In the United Kingdom, the generation of electricity from renewable sources is regulated through a quota system in terms of a quota obligation and a certificate system. Electricity suppliers are obliged to supply a certain proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources ("quota") to their customers under the Renewables Obligation Orders. A supplier's quota is deemed satisfied if he presents a certain number of green certificates. Furthermore, in the United Kingdom commercial and industrial users of traditional energy sources are subject to a tax called the Climate Change Levy (CCL). Apart from that, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) subsidises projects in the renewable energy sector under the Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF).

Overview of access to the grid

In the United Kingdom, access of renewable energy systems to the grid is subject to the general provisions of energy law. Renewable energy sources are not given priority.