Conventions and constraints: the NFFO experience

The United Kingdom´s experience with renewable electricity generation, while not without problems, has been successful. There is over 350 MW of renewable capacity commissioned and generating. We expect to obtain a similar amount from the NFF03 order (Nonfossil Fuel Obligation), whose schemes are presently being constructed, while NFF04 is intended to bring forward between 400 and 500 MW of new capacity, with a further 75 MW to come in Scotland. The intention to hold one more round of competitions before 1998 has already been announced, and the Government´s target remains 1500 MW by the year 2000. The UK has, by introducing competition into developing technologies, achieved a healthy, growing industry and a significant reduction in generated cost per kWh. In 1990, the idea that “renewables” could generate at prices competitive with “conventional” plant was widely sneered at. Today, prices have closed the gap dramatically, and there is a clear expectation that the price differential will become even smaller. Small-scale wind generation has its part to play