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The Renewables Obligation Order 2015

S.I. 2015/1947 · Made 26 November 2015 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 27 March 2026.

Electricity, England And Wales

Made 26th November 2015

Coming into force in accordance with article 1

This Order is made by the Secretary of State in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 32 to 32K, 32LA and 32M of the Electricity Act 1989 M1 (“the 1989 Act”) and section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 M2 (“the 1972 Act”) (as read with paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to the 1972 Act) M3.

The Secretary of State is a Minister designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the 1972 Act in relation to energy and energy sources M4.

This Order makes provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the 1972 Act and it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient for the references to Annex 5 to Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources M5 in article 83 of and Schedules 1 and 3 to this Order to be construed as references to Annex 5 to that Directive as amended from time to time.

The Secretary of State has consulted the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux M6, electricity suppliers to whom this Order applies and such generators of electricity from renewable sources and other persons as the Secretary of State considered appropriate in accordance with section 32L(1) of the 1989 Act.

In exercising the power to make provision under section 32D(1) of the 1989 Act, the Secretary of State has had regard to the matters specified in section 32D(4).

In accordance with section 32L(2) of the 1989 Act, and paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 2 to the 1972 Act, a draft of this instrument was laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Accordingly the Secretary of State makes the following Order:

Annotations to the whole text

Marginal citations

M1

1989 c.29, sections 32 to 32M were substituted by section 37 of the Energy Act 2008 (c.32) for sections 32 to 32C. Section 32M(1) was amended by article 2 of S.I. 2011/984 and section 55(2) of the Energy Act 2013 (c.32) and section 32LA was inserted together with section 32LB by section 55(1) of that Act.

M2

1972 c.68. Section 2(2) was amended by section 27(1)(a) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c.51) and Part 1 of the Schedule to the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c.7).

M3

Paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 was inserted by section 28 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 and was amended by article 3 of S.I. 2007/1388 and Part 1 of the Schedule to the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008.

M4

Article 6 of S.I. 2010/761.

M5

OJ No L 140, 5.6.2009, p16.

M6

Section 32L(1) of the 1989 Act refers to “the Authority”, “Citizens Advice” and “Citizens Advice Scotland”. These are defined in section 111(1) of the 1989 Act, as inserted by paragraph 40(a) of Schedule 6 to the Utilities Act 2000 (c.27) and paragraph 5(20) of Schedule 1 to S.I. 2014/631.

Contents

  1. Part 1: Introductory provisions
  2. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  3. 2Interpretation
  4. 3Biomass and fuels which are to be treated as biomass
  5. 4Fossil derived bioliquid
  6. 5Waste as a renewable source
  7. 6Grace period generating stations
  8. Part 2: The renewables obligation
  9. 7The renewables obligation
  10. 8Part of calculation A referable to Great Britain
  11. 9Part of calculation A referable to Northern Ireland
  12. 10Calculation A
  13. 11Calculation B
  14. 12Determining the total number of UK ROCs to be produced in an obligation period
  15. 13Determining the number of UK ROCs to be produced by a designated electricity supplier in order to discharge its renewables obligation
  16. 13ADetermining the number of UK ROCs to be produced by a designated electricity supplier in order to discharge its renewables obligation: obligation periods beginning on or after 1st April 2019
  17. 13BRevising the number of UK ROCs to be produced by a designated electricity supplier for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 obligation periods
  18. 13CRevision of the obligation level published on 27th September 2023 in respect of the 2024/25 obligation period
  19. 14Further provision in relation to the production of UK ROCs
  20. Part 3: Matters to be certified by and content of ROCs
  21. 15Matters to be certified by ROCs
  22. 16When electricity is to be regarded as supplied to customers in Great Britain or Northern Ireland
  23. 17When electricity is used in a permitted way for ROCs certifying matters within section 32B(7) or (8) of the Act
  24. Part 4: Issue and revocation of ROCs
  25. 18Issue of ROCs to generators and suppliers
  26. 19Issue of ROCs to agents
  27. 20Confirmations required from the person being issued with a ROC
  28. 21Further confirmations required for ROCs certifying matters within section 32B(3) and (5) of the Act where electricity generated otherwise than on land
  29. 22Further confirmations required for ROCs certifying matters within section 32B(3) to (6) of the Act
  30. 23Further confirmations required for ROCs certifying matters within section 32B(5), (6) and (8) of the Act
  31. 24Refusing to issue and revoking ROCs
  32. 25Where ROCs cannot be revoked
  33. Part 5: RO eligible renewable output
  34. 26Meaning of RO input electricity
  35. 27Meaning of RO output electricity
  36. 28ROCs to be issued by the Authority in respect of a generating station's RO eligible renewable output
  37. 29Calculating a generating station's RO eligible renewable output
  38. 30Calculating the RO eligible renewable output of a qualifying CHP station
  39. Part 6: Banding
  40. 31Calculating the amount of electricity generated by a particular category of generating capacity
  41. 32Calculating the amount of electricity generated in a particular way
  42. 33The amount of electricity to be stated in each ROC
  43. 34Microgenerators
  44. 35Electricity generated by qualifying CHP stations
  45. 36Low-range co-firing of relevant energy crops
  46. 37Generating stations which were accredited as at 11th July 2006
  47. 38Landfill gas and sewage gas generating stations which were accredited, or held preliminary accreditation, as at 31st March 2009
  48. 39Offshore wind turbines installed between 2006 and 2010
  49. 40Wave and tidal stream generating stations
  50. 41Generating stations in respect of which a statutory grant has been awarded
  51. 42Review of banding provisions
  52. Part 7: Cases and circumstances when a ROC must not be issued
  53. 43Generating stations not compliant with accreditation or metering requirements
  54. 44Maximum period of eligibility for ROCs
  55. 45Generating stations using excluded capacity to generate electricity
  56. 46Generating stations located outside England and Wales
  57. 47Electricity supplied to customers in Northern Ireland
  58. 48Combustion units in relation to which a capacity agreement has been issued
  59. 49Electricity in respect of which a CFD or investment contract applies
  60. 50Combustion units in relation to which a CFD or investment contract has been entered into
  61. 51Generating stations supported or potentially eligible for support under a feed-in tariff scheme
  62. 52Generating stations in respect of which a NFFO arrangement applied but was terminated
  63. 53Non-commissioned generating stations in respect of which a NFFO arrangement applies
  64. 54Large hydro generating stations first commissioned on or before 1st April 2002
  65. 55Generating stations first commissioned before 1st January 1990
  66. 56Generating stations using peat
  67. 57Generating stations using landfill gas
  68. 58Generating stations using gaseous fuel produced by means of gasification or pyrolysis
  69. 59Generating stations using Solid Recovered Fuel
  70. 60Generating stations using waste or fossil fuel
  71. 61Circumstances in which ROCs must not be issued in respect of electricity generated from bioliquid
  72. 62Common agricultural policy requirements in the case of bioliquids
  73. 63Circumstances in which ROCs must not be issued in respect of electricity generated from solid or gaseous biomass
  74. 64Cases where a renewables obligation certificate has already been issued
  75. 65Cases and circumstances when a ROC must not be issued: general provisions
  76. Part 8: Payments to discharge the renewables obligation, dealing with the buy-out and late payment funds, and mutualisation
  77. 66Interpretation
  78. 67Payments to discharge the renewables obligation
  79. 68Late payments to discharge the renewables obligation
  80. 69Dealing with the buy-out fund: payments into the Consolidated Fund and to the Northern Ireland authority
  81. 70Dealing with the late payment fund: payments into the Consolidated Fund and to the Northern Ireland authority
  82. 71Dealing with the buy-out and late payment funds: payments to UK suppliers
  83. 72Determining whether a relevant shortfall has occurred
  84. 73Calculating the total mutualisation sum in the case of a relevant shortfall
  85. 74Payments to be made by suppliers towards the total mutualisation sum
  86. 75Circumstances in which payments towards the total mutualisation sum are to be re-calculated
  87. 76Re-calculated payments to be made by suppliers towards the total mutualisation sum and repayments by the Authority
  88. 77Payments to be made to suppliers out of the mutualisation fund
  89. Part 9: Provision of information
  90. 78Provision of information required by the Authority to carry out its functions
  91. 79Provision of information to determine whether a supplier is discharging its renewables obligation
  92. 80Provision of information to determine whether a ROC is to be, or should have been, issued
  93. 81Notification by the operator of a low-range co-firing combustion unit
  94. 82Information to be provided to the Authority where electricity is generated from biomass
  95. 83Bioliquid sustainability audit report
  96. 84Solid and gaseous biomass sustainability audit report
  97. Part 10: Functions of the Authority
  98. 85Determination of matters by the Authority
  99. 86Functions of the Authority
  100. 87Exchange of information with the Northern Ireland Authority
  101. 88Preliminary accreditation of generating stations
  102. 89Accreditation of generating stations
  103. 90Preliminary accreditation and accreditation: common provisions
  104. 91Registration of offshore wind turbines
  105. 92Registration of additional capacity
  106. 93ROC Register
  107. Part 11: Modifications and transitional provisions
  108. 94Modification of this Order in relation to microgenerators in certain circumstances
  109. 95Revocation and savings
  110. 96Transitional provisions
  111. 97Consequential amendments to the Renewables Obligation Closure Order 2014
  112. Signature
  113. Schedule 1: GREENHOUSE GAS CRITERIA FOR BIOLIQUID
  114. 1Interpretation
  115. 2The greenhouse gas criteria
  116. 3Calculating the percentage difference
  117. 4Paragraph 4
  118. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  119. 6Paragraph 6
  120. Schedule 2: GREENHOUSE GAS CRITERIA FOR SOLID AND GASEOUS BIOMASS
  121. Part 1: Greenhouse gas criteria
  122. 1Interpretation
  123. 2The greenhouse gas criteria
  124. 3Calculating the greenhouse gas emissions
  125. 4Paragraph 4
  126. 5Paragraph 5
  127. Part 2: Actual value method
  128. 6Paragraph 6
  129. 7Paragraph 7
  130. Part 3: Default value method
  131. 8Paragraph 8
  132. 9Paragraph 9
  133. 4Default greenhouse gas emissions from the production of biomass
  134. Schedule 3: LAND CRITERIA
  135. 1Interpretation
  136. 2Land criteria: bioliquids
  137. 3Land criteria: woody biomass
  138. 4Land criteria: other fuels
  139. 5Protected sources
  140. 6Sustainable source
  141. 7Exempt purposes
  142. Schedule 4: THE ROC REGISTER
  143. 1Paragraph 1
  144. 2Paragraph 2
  145. 3Paragraph 3
  146. 4Paragraph 4
  147. 5Paragraph 5
  148. 6Paragraph 6
  149. 7Paragraph 7
  150. 8Paragraph 8
  151. 9Paragraph 9
  152. 10Paragraph 10
  153. 11Paragraph 11
  154. 12Paragraph 12
  155. 13Paragraph 13
  156. 14Paragraph 14
  157. 15Paragraph 15
  158. Schedule 5: ELECTRICITY TO BE STATED IN ROCs
  159. Part 1: INTERPRETATION
  160. 1Paragraph 1
  161. 2AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY TO BE STATED IN ROCs ISSUED FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATED USING PRE-2013 CAPACITY
  162. 3AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY TO BE STATED IN ROCs ISSUED FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATED USING 2013/14 CAPACITY, 2014/15 CAPACITY, 2015/16 CAPACITY OR POST-2016 CAPACITY
  163. 4AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY TO BE STATED IN ROCs ISSUED FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY MICROGENERATORS TO WHICH ARTICLE 34 APPLIES
  164. 5AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY TO BE STATED IN ROCs ISSUED FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATED USING PRE-2013 CAPACITY OR 2013/15 CAPACITY WHERE ARTICLE 35(3) OR (4) APPLIES
  165. 6AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY TO BE STATED IN ROCs ISSUED FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATED USING 2015/16 CAPACITY WHERE ARTICLE 35(5) APPLIES
  166. 7AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY TO BE STATED IN ROCs ISSUED FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATED USING POST-2016 CAPACITY WHERE ARTICLE 35(6) APPLIES
  167. Schedule 6: Annual ROC cap applicable to electricity generated by certain fuelled generating capacity
  168. 1Interpretation
  169. 2Meaning of “exempt combustion unit”
  170. 3Capped generating stations in the 2018/19 obligation period
  171. 4Capped generating stations in the 2019/20 obligation period and subsequent obligation periods
  172. 5Mixed generating stations in the 2018/19 obligation period
  173. 6Mixed generating stations in the 2019/20 obligation period and subsequent obligation periods
  174. 7Order applies with modifications to determine whether ROCs are to be issued to mixed generating stations
  175. 8Article 2 modified (interpretation)
  176. 9New article 26A inserted
  177. 10Article 27 modified (meaning of RO output electricity)
  178. 11Article 28 modified (ROCs to be issued by the Authority in respect of a generating station’s RO eligible renewable output)
  179. 12Article 29 modified (calculating a generating station’s RO eligible renewable output)
  180. 13Article 30 modified (calculating the RO eligible renewable output of a qualifying CHP station)
  181. 14Article 31 modified (calculating the amount of electricity generated by a particular category of generating capacity)
  182. 15Article 32 modified (calculating the amount of electricity generated in a particular way)
  183. 16Article 43 modified (generating stations not compliant with accreditation or metering requirements)
  184. 17Article 80 modified (provision of information to determine whether a ROC is to be, or should have been, issued)
  185. 18Schedule 5 modified (electricity to be stated in ROCs)
  186. Explanatory note