Offshore renewables deal highlights UK’s growth potential despite ROC delay

The deal, estimated to be worth €2.5bn, is between electronics giant Siemens and Danish firm Dong Energy.

The WWF warned, however, that Government indecision over support for renewable energy was creating uncertainty in a sector which needs to plan investment decisions for the long term.

On Tuesday July 17, the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) confirmed that no immediate announcement would be made on the level of Renewables Obligation Certification (ROC) subsidy which renewable energy projects can expect to receive through to 2017.

Jenny Banks, Energy Policy Officer at WWF-UK said: “This deal is fantastic news for the UK but it’s coming despite, not because of, what the Government’s doing.

“Political rows over support for renewables between DECC and the Treasury risk serious damage to this sector, even though the economics of wind are, according to the CBI, blindingly obvious”.

“The Government also needs to be aware that the industry’s looking for certainty beyond 2020 too – otherwise there’s a danger that serious investment like this in the UK economy will simply drop off a cliff-edge”.

Responding to the WWF’s comments, a spokesperson from DECC told edie that it will be finalising and publishing the ROC subsidy as soon as possible.

Leigh Stringer