The Energy Saving Trust’s ‘Future
Energy’ scheme, which accredits
the various green power retail schemes, is being revamped, given that
most companies will seek exemption from the Climate Change Levy (CCL)
through other routes - and be accredited by Customs and Excise. In
addition, when the Renewables Obligation (RO) comes into force, most
suppliers will seek to source power directly from generators, with
accreditation by OFGEM.
Following a consultation exercise, EST has decided that, as of April
1st and the start of the CCL, it will no longer accredit non-domestic
supply schemes, and will focus on the voluntary domestic eco-fund
‘donation’ schemes. It is unclear what will become of the
domestic ‘supply’ schemes- e.g. whether they (and indeed
the fund schemes) can, will or should operate outside of the RO. More
in Renew 131
Meanwhile though, there’s been a bit of a stampede amongst government
departments to sign up with green power companies. The DTI
and Home office now use green power for some of their London offices.
So does No.10.
But the Department of Social Security say they were ‘the
first government department to have a building with fully renewable
electricity supplies and now we are leading government by extending
this to 30 more offices. We will continue to use clean, green alternative
power sources wherever possible, it is not only essential to improve
the environmental impact of the Government's buildings and facilities
it also saves money.’
The DSS now meet more that 15% of its total electricity needs from
renewables, via Ecotricity and Powergen, with, it claims, prices being
17% less than for the brown power contracts they had previously.
Actually though, the Scottish Executive claims to have beaten
the DSS to it, with a contract with Scottish and Southern Electricity
that it says ‘delivers savings of over £1 million for the Scottish administration.’
The new contract covers 25 public sector organisations at over 450
sites across Scotland. SSE will provide 100% of the Executive's requirements
from renewable sources. According to the Executive "Renewables
production in Scotland already accounts for over 10% of electricity
production. Scottish renewables obligations in the pipeline should
raise this to 12.5% by 2002-03 and we are now looking to a Scottish
target of 17.5% by 2010."
