Green Heat obligation for the UK

General NEWS

Green Heat obligation for the UK A number of organizations in

expense and delay in trying to

to be achieved by stimulating

however, there is no market-

the UK have proposed the intro-

stimulate change in the popula-

and supporting the market for

based instrument to incentivise

duction of a legislated Green

tion at large.

renewable heat," the proposal

their development."

Heat obligation to encourage

"Every new energy develop-

states. Biomass fuel could fuel

"If we are intent on achieving a

the use of renewable energies

ment and investment in the UK

8,000 MW of heating systems,

low carbon economy, then

for non-electric applications.

that fails to make use of a

and this could treble with the

comparable measures to the

Energy for space heating

renewable fuel for both power

introduction of energy crops.

RO must be introduced for

accounts for one-third of the

and heat, is a missed opportu-

Solar could heat 70% of a

renewable heat and transport

UK's energy demand, says the

nity in terms of developing the

home's annual water needs,

fuels and technologies. A

Renewable Power Association,

UK's low carbon economy," the

and half of the country's build-

renewable heat obligation is

which worked with Friends of

document notes. The Green

ing stock is suitable for solar

complementary to the RO, and

the Earth and others to develop

Heat obligation would be

thermal.

will ensure that least-cost car-

a proposal for a 'Renewable

placed on suppliers of fossil

"The Renewables Obligation

bon abatement options are

Heat Obligation.' The UK gov-

fuel heating fuels (suppliers of

applies only to the supply of

fully exploited," it adds.

ernment has recognized the

natural gas, coal and oil) which

electricity and yet two-thirds of

Elsewhere, the Green Heat

contribution of Green Heat

are limited in number and easi-

our emissions of greenhouse

Partnership, Canada has pro-

technologies in climate change

ly identified. The concept

gases come from non-electricity

moted the mandatory procure-

programs, but "has not intro-

would ensure that heating fuel

uses of fossil fuels," it adds.

ment by government of its

duced a dedicated policy to

suppliers are required to supply

"Proven and cost effective

technologies, and is lobbying

support this low cost and

an increasing proportion of

renewable energy technologies

for a 20% GreenTherms

proven carbon abatement

their customers' demand for

are available now to displace

Standard that is analogous to

option."

heat from non-fossil fuel

the use of fossil fuels in

Renewable Portfolio Standards

"Like electricity suppliers, coal,

sources, such as biomass, solar

transport and for heat;

around the world.

gas and oil suppliers should

thermal and earth energy sys-

have an Obligation to supply an

tems. Each supplier's

increasing proportion of their

Obligation would be a percent-

business from renewable energy

age of its fossil fuel sales, and

sources," it explains. The pro-

the Obligation would be met

posed Obligation would use

by Heat Obligation Certificates

Heat Obligation Certificates,

purchased from accredited

which have proved to be effec-

Green Heat schemes.

tive in stimulating change with-

The RPA attempted to have the

out imposing a financial burden

Energy Bill amended in the

on taxpayers in the develop-

House of Commons before the

ment of green power markets.

legislation returned to the

"The existing Renewable

House of Lords, but the amend-

Obligation, which covers only

ment was not passed. The

electricity, is potentially the

Renewables Obligation is stimu-

most cost effective way of deliv-

lating green power sales, and

ering a step-change in renew-

electricity emits one-third of

ables take-up of all those meas-

GHG emissions in the UK.

ures adopted around the

Emissions from transport may

world," and should be intro-

be controlled by the introduc-

duced at the "earliest possible

tion of a Renewable Transport

opportunity." The technology

Fuel Obligation. Green Heat in

neutral approach is "even

Britain represented 8,327 GWh

more relevant in the more

of thermal energy in 2002, or

established heat market than

716,000 tonnes of oil equiva-

in power generation (where

lent, mainly in heat for homes

some approaches are at an

and light industry. The majority

early stage)," and the obliga-

was provided by wood and

tion would provide a market-

some solar thermal but "there

based incentive to which com-

is a huge potential for addition-

panies can respond without

al low cost carbon abatement

www.re-focus.net

November/December 2004

reFOCUS 9