Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED)
ORED's mission is “To accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in order to reduce carbon emissions, increase energy security and create business opportunities in the UK”.
ORED is responsible for taking forward the commitments the UK's Renewable Energy Strategy, published in July 2009. This work includes:
- Putting in place appropriate financial incentives to support the take-up of renewable energy, including reform of the Renewables Obligation; introducing Feed-in-Tariffs for small-scale electricity; and a new Renewable Heat Incentive;
- Overcoming the non-financial barriers to the deployment of wind and other technologies, including supporting reforms to ensure an effective planning system is in place at a local and regional level;
- Promoting the use of sustainable bio-energy;
- Supporting the cost-effective deployment of wave and tidal technologies, including taking forward the feasibility study on Severn Tidal Power;
- Overcoming supply chain blockages and promoting business opportunities in the renewable sector in the UK.
ORED will exercise its functions in a manner which takes account of the relevant regulatory regimes and the UK’s broader energy goals. The Office is advised by a non-executive expert Chair, Professor Bernie Bulkin, as well as by the Renewables Advisory Board (RAB) [1]
Latest news
On 30 July 2010 DECC published an initial guidance document on EU Funding Mechanism “NER300” for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Renewable Projects.
Documents:
- EU Funding Mechanism “NER300” for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Renewable Projects. [File size 75.7kb, PDF ]
- Draft Commission Decision laying down criteria and measures for financing commerical demonstration projects [File size 84kb, PDF ]
A DECC website was launched on 29 July 2010 to provide statistical information on renewable energy projects. The RESTATS website contains:
- performance statistics on all relevant renewable energy sources in the UK, which are used to compile data in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics;
- data which tracks the progress of renewable projects from inception, through planning, construction, and operational phases; and
- on-line maps showing the status of UK renewable projects.
- DECC has announced on 27 July that it will fund a new, independent analysis of matters arising in the consideration of noise impacts in the determination of wind farm planning applications in England. The contract for carrying out the work has been awarded to Hayes McKenzie Partnership, following a standard competitive tendering process.
- The project will seek to establish best practice in assessing and rating wind turbine noise by investigating previous planning inspectorate decisions, to ensure that the ETSU-R-97 guidance is applied in a consistent and effective manner. The project will not revisit ETSU itself. Results are expected around the end of the year.
- In February 2010 the Department of Energy and Climate Change commissioned consultants AEA Technology to assess the potential for increasing the profile of renewable energy within Local Authorities (LAs) and improving monitoring of LAs progress in these areas. This Scoping Study: Options for a Local Authority Renewable Energy National Indicator is the product of that assessment. The findings and recommendations in this report are those of the consultant authors and do not necessarily represent the views or proposed policies of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
- The 2010 Budget announced, subject to European state aid considerations, that there will be an open competition allowing site developers to bid for funding of up to £60 million for infrastructure for the offshore wind industry. We will be expecting all bids to include contributions from local partners.
- Offshore wind is at the heart of the UK economy’s shift to low carbon. Britain is, and will remain for the foreseeable future, the largest single market for offshore wind in the world. It is important to ensure that the UK takes advantage of this opportunity by attracting wind turbine manufacturers to base their operations here. The Government has listened carefully to the concerns of industry about the lack of suitable locations with high quality infrastructure that can support manufacturing and assembly. In order to speed up the deployment of wind energy throughout Europe, funding will be provided to support site development for offshore wind turbine manufacture and assembly in the UK.
- More details of the competition can be found on the Business Development page of this site
- To help ensure a robust evidence base to support the deployment of renewable energy, DECC has published a renewable and low-carbon capacity assessment methodology. The evidence produced by applying the methodology will help to support local authorities and communities to make the most of opportunities for renewable energy deployment in their areas. DECC has provided funding to support the application of the methodology across the whole of England.
- The first meeting of the Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Task Force took place on 9th November 2009. The task force has been created by DECC and the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) to bring coordination and leadership to the various tiers of Government involved in planning for the delivery of renewable and low carbon energy deployment. The Terms of Reference for the task force and a summary note of the meeting are now available
- DECC has published a guidance document on injection of renewable gas (biomethane) into the gas grid: Biomethane into the gas network: a guide for producers. It is available on the Non-conventional sources of gas web page.
- ORED Chair – our work involves engaging with a wide range of external stakeholders. To assist with this, the Office has recruited a part-time, non-executive expert Chair (Professor Bernie Bulkin) to liaise with industry and other stakeholders, and help build a strong reputation for ORED as a delivery body. Bernie started as the expert chair in January 2010 and on his appointment, said "We need to move to low carbon energy supplies in order to combat climate change and achieving our renewables targets for 2020 are a key part of that. This will be a challenging and important role.
Contact Us
General enquiries
Tel:0300 060 4000
e-mail: enquiries@decc.gsi.gov.uk
Note (a): DfT has lead responsibility for delivering policy on the use of Renewable Energy in Transport. Information about the current Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation which is administered by the RFA can be found at the Renewable Fuels Agency website.
Note (b): Work on improving grid connections for both renewables and other technologies including the use of Energy Act 2008 powers to implement new grid access rules will be taken forward by the Future Electricity Networks team (FEN) outside ORED.
[1] RAB is a Non-Departmental Public Body whose remit is to advise the Secretary of State for DECC on renewable energy. Its members are individuals appointed through the OCPA-regulated process.