CAP ON RENEWABLES OBLIGATION CERTIFICATES FOR COFIRING WITH BIOMASS

Motion Text

That this House welcomes the Government's commitment to secure, sustainable and affordable energy and a balanced mix of electricity generation; notes that cofiring biomass with coal is significantly lowering carbon dioxide emissions and appreciates the potential for further reductions; observes with regret the Government's decision to reduce the cap on renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) for cofiring with biomass from 25 per cent. to 10 per cent. effective from 1st April, representing a 60 per cent. cut in the use of biomass; is concerned that this may lead to an over-supply of cofired ROCs, causing a collapse in their price and a consequent loss of confidence in the short-term energy crop market for farmers and the suppliers of biomass; and therefore calls on the Government to revise the Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2004, or alter the ROC pricing system to prevent a collapse in the market.