Blog

RO banding consultation a positive step for marine energy

20 Oct 11 - Martin McAdam, Chief Executive Officer

Marine energy offers a great future for the UK - not just in terms of meeting our green energy targets, but in building an indigenous industrial sector here in Britain that can create jobs and generate exports for our economy.

It is therefore particularly heartening that this potential has been recognised by DECC in their consultation on the Renewables Obligation Banding Review published today.

By proposing to move the UK's marine energy ROC banding into line with the current level of 5 ROCs for wave in Scotland, the UK Government has given a very positive signal which will incentivise inward investment in what has the potential to be a world-leading, high growth British success story.

This proposal recognises the important contribution marine energy can make to the UK economy and its low carbon targets and supports the industry's desire to deploy the first pre-commercial arrays in the next few years.

By putting a 30MW cap on each project, the government will ensure that the cost of support is minimised whilst the benefit to the UK's economy and the global environment is maximised.

Our industry mission is to produce cost-effective clean, green, British-built energy from our seas, and this news is a real boost to this goal.