Responding to comments from Tim Yeo MP, Chair of the Energy and Climate Change Committee, who have examined the government’s draft Energy Bill, Catherine Birkbeck, Policy Manager for Grid and Markets at Scottish Renewables, said:
“We have always said that the Energy Bill has the potential to make or break the renewables industry. The committee has clearly stated that it will be the latter without dramatic changes to Government’s proposals.
“The renewables industry shares many of the concerns outlined by the Energy and Climate Change Committee on the draft Energy Bill, particularly around the huge complexity of the new market mechanisms and the introduction of a whole series of new risks, both of which could put off investors.
“Electricity Market Reform was intended to encourage low carbon technologies such as renewables to continue to grow while protecting consumers from rising energy bills. However, in reality the Bill has thrown up so many questions and created so much uncertainty for the sector it’s still unclear if it can be amended to meet its initial objectives.”
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Offshore WIND staff, July 23, 2012; Image: Scottish Renewables