Archived press release

FoE Response to NFFO3 Announcement

21 December 1994

Twenty-four small wind projects and three wood gasification plants received contracts today as part of the Government's programme to support some renewable energy technologies. This will help ensure the diversification of renewable energy1 continues in the UK. Support was also given to other projects including hydro power, agricultural & forestry waste, energy crops, some larger wind projects and landfill gas.

Friends of the Earth's Renewable Energy Campaigner, Fiona Weightman, said:

"Encouraging smaller, more diverse renewable energy projects is welcomed alongside the development of other appropriate, larger projects. Small clusters of wind turbines, for example, can promote more locally based involvement and more innovative siting. The small number of wood for fuel plants should encourage the responsible, environmentally sensitive development of this new industry. We need to develop diverse, locally acceptable projects which can capture the benefits of renewable energy."

In the statement today from Charles Wardle, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Industry and Energy, Non Fossil Fuel Obligation2 support was announced for 141 of the 520 renewable energy projects that bid in. The 141 projects totalled 626.92 Megawatts at an average price of 4.35 pence per kilowatt-hour (a significant reduction in price since the 1991 NFFO).

However, Friends of the Earth condemned the selection of twenty incinerator projects which have received contracts under the Municipal and Industrial Waste section3.

Friends of the Earth's Renewable Energy Campaigner, Fiona Weightman, concluded:

"With the public already generally supporting renewable energy4, FoE urges today's successful developers to progress projects responsibly by consulting with local communities and ensuring their projects meet high environmental standards5. With costs reducing and a large numbers of projects proposed, there is obviously the potential for a strong renewable energy industry for the next century."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1) Renewable energy projects can supply electricity without the long-term environmental impacts of 'traditional' electricity generation such as global warming, acid rain and nuclear waste.

2) The Non Fossil Fuel Obligation provides a guaranteed market and premium price for the output of non- fossil fuelled electricity generation, principally nuclear power which received 94% of the NFFO in 1993-4. However, the Government has set two previous orders (in 1990 and 1991) to bring forward new renewable energy projects and has committed to setting further such orders before the year 2000.

Previous England and Wales NFFO rounds awarded the following contracts: First Round 1990: 75 contracts worth 152.1MW DNC Second Round 1991: 122 contracts worth 472.2MW DNC It is Government policy to work towards 1500 MW of new electricity generating capacity from renewable sources for the UK by the year 2000.

3) Friends of the Earth believes that municipal waste incineration projects should not be supported by the NFFO before the UK has developed a waste avoidance and minimisation strategy. These funds should be diverted instead to genuine renewable energy technologies.

4) For example, the recently released BBC Wales report by the University of Wales Love them or loathe them? Public attitudes towards windfarms in Wales. 67% of respondents (77.6% of who lived within sight of wind farms)were in favour of the development of wind power in Wales.

5) Friends of the Earth has published its own guidelines to appropriate windfarm development. Friends of the Earth, Planning for Wind Power - Guidelines for Project Developers and Local Planners, May 1994. ISBN 1 85750 228 0.

CONTACT: Fiona Weightman

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust