Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Deferred
Paragraph: 79
Introduce a framework supporting repowering and life extensions for existing onshore wind farms.
Recommendation
We are pleased that the Government is looking at how best to support repowered assets. Replacing old onshore wind turbines with new technologies will help reduce the need for new capacity elsewhere. The Government should introduce a framework which supports the retention of existing onshore wind farms and other renewable assets, for example via the Contracts for Difference scheme, when they need to be repowered. The Government should ensure that the planning regime delivers a clear presumption in favour of repowering and life extensions of onshore wind farms.
Government Response Summary
The government's response describes Ofgem's investigation into Drax Power Limited and provides a general overview of the biomass industry and its sustainability criteria. This completely deflects from the recommendation to introduce a framework and planning presumption for repowering onshore wind farms.
Paragraph Reference:
79
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
55. [Response provided by Ofgem] Ofgem is investigating whether Drax Power Limited is in breach of annual profiling reporting requirements relating to the Renewables Obligations scheme and other related matters. The opening of this investigation does not imply that Ofgem has made any findings about possible non-compliance by Drax Power Limited. The outcome of the investigation will be published in due course and shared with the Committee. Ofgem is unable to comment on the details of ongoing investigations. Conclusion (Response deemed necessary) The UK’s biomass industry is a diverse sector made up of large-scale power plants through to smaller-scale, more local, generators. The overall costs of large-scale bioenergy power plants, which converted from coal-fired plants, are very expensive and rely heavily on imported feedstocks, which may not be produced sustainably, and which may have significant lifecycle emissions. Existing support schemes for unabated bioenergy are due to end by 2027. We do not believe that the historic allocation of subsidies to large scale biomass, such as Drax, has represented either value for money or the best use of public funds. 56. The use of biomass in energy generation in the UK’s power sector has helped to dramatically reduce the use of fossil fuels- particularly coal. Electricity generators only receive subsidies for the electricity they generate from biomass that has demonstrated compliance with our sustainability criteria. Suppliers must demonstrate to the regulators (Ofgem and LCCC) that they meet the criteria, and their evidence is independently audited. Part of the sustainability criteria (the GHG criteria) requires that biomass used to generate Decarbonisation of the power sector: Government Response 11 electricity does not exceed a set GHG threshold, and includes a minimum percentage lifecycle GHG emission savings, compared to emissions from a fossil fuel comparator for electricity.