RenewableUK has asked the UK government to review the Renewables Obligation (RO) accreditation deadline for three upcoming floating wind projects in Scotland and proposed a deadline extension from October 2018 to April 2020. Namely, two out of the three projects will miss becoming eligible to receive Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) due to delays that were out of the developers’ control.
To reduce the overall subsidy level the three projects would receive, RenewableUK has also proposed that the original end date for ROCs in 2037 remains, which means that the three floating wind farms would receive ROCs for less than the standard period of 20 years.
The three projects in question are the 60MW Forthwind floating wind farm off the coast of Methil in the Firth of Forth, 10MW Dounreay Trì off Dounreay in Caithness, and the 50MW Kincardine project off Aberdeen. Of the three, Kincardine is expected to meet the current RO deadline.
The industry is now waiting for a formal response from the government on the proposal for the deadline extension.
“We need a swift, positive decision from the UK Government on support for these projects, so that we can secure the lead in a global export market worth billions,” RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Maf Smith said. “All that’s needed to make this happen is a simple, minor change, extending the accreditation deadline for support – just for these particular projects – from October 2018 to April 2020. Any nation keen to develop a forward-looking industrial strategy would not wish to forego such an opportunity.”
The industry is urging for the deadline extension as it considers these projects to be vital for the establishment of the future floating wind industry in Scotland and the entire UK.
“The UK is leading the world in the development of innovative floating wind farms. Building massive new infrastructure projects like these brings huge economic benefits to Scotland and to the UK as a whole. The next three floating projects alone represent an investment of £425m, and are worth £200m in supply chain contracts and employment to Scottish industry,” Smith said.