Internal Project Management Guidelines - PV Policy Group

PV Policy Group – WP2 – Questionnaire on national policy framework for PV
1.2. National strategy and programme of activities for PV promotion
Please give a brief summary on the national strategy and programme of activities in the PV area to
achieve the goals mentioned under 1.1. This chapter is designed to understand the overall history and
“philosophy” of national incentive systems. Indicate also the key sources of information for
consultations of this strategy in full detail (e.g. National Energy Plan).
The Renewables Obligation (RO) was introduced in the UK on 1st April 2002. This aimed
to see 5 % of UK electricity generated from renewable energy sources by 2003 and 10 % by
2010. Extended to 15% by 2015. Programme committed to 2027 to give confidence to
industry and its investors
(IEA-PVPS UK National Survey Report 2003)
In the White Book “Our Energy Future – Creating a Low Carbon Economy”, published by the
governmental Performance Innovation Unit (PIU), the target of reducing CO2 emissions by
60% until 2060 was set. Now accepted as government ambition. Various programmes have
now been developed to improve energy efficiency and use of renewables but the UK is still a
long way from achieving the interim targets for the next 5 to 15 years.
(Dena Handbuch 2003)
In the UK, PV is seen as a very small part of the overall strategy, held back by the
government perception that PV can only contribute effectively after 2020 and then in a small
way. Technologies that operate on a larger scale have been given priority (e.g. offshore wind
and marine energy) following the Renewables Innovation Review carried out for the DTI by
the Carbon Trust in 2003. Hence the future of the current PV programme is in doubt.
WIP 30.06.2005 19