HC Deb 16 December 2003 vol 415 cc824-5W
Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether UK companies met the Government's targets for the purchase of renewable energy in 2002. [142024]

Mr. Timms

I have been asked to reply.

Under the terms of the Renewables Obligation Order (2002), and the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2002, licensed electricity suppliers in Great Britain are required to supply specific proportions of their electricity sales from renewable sourced electricity—with the aim of reaching the target of 10.4 per cent. in the period 2010–11.

For the year to April 2003, the level of the Obligation was set at 3 per cent. (The current level is 4.3 per cent.) Suppliers demonstrate their compliance with the Obligation through presenting Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) for all or part of this quota to Ofgem.

Taking all licensed electricity suppliers in Great Britain together, the proportion of the Renewables Obligation met by the actual supply of renewables in 2.002–03 was 58.9 per cent. 41 per cent. of suppliers met their obligation fully; 23 per cent. met their obligation in part, and 36 per cent. failed to meet any of their obligation target through the supply of renewables.

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