Emerging technologies need stable, predictable support

Richard Black comments on UK's first competitive auctions for renewable electricity projects

By George Smeeton

info@eciu.net

Commenting on the results of the first competitive auctions for renewable electricity projects published today, Richard Black, director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said emerging technologies need stable, predictable support to realise their full potential.

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Richard Black said: “At first sight the CfD auction looks like a win for government policy in that it’s resulting in smaller subsidies for renewable energy, and so cheaper prices for British citizens.

“However the tiny share of the pot awarded to solar schemes raises a big question mark about whether the CfD scheme works for smaller companies, and is something of an own goal given that solar projects were the cheapest of all in this auction.

“Nascent British industries will only realise their full potential if they’re given stable, predictable support over the next few years through schemes that don’t involve complex bureaucracy and big up-front investment.”