Yorkshire renewables projects receive government backing
EIGHT major renewable electricity projects, including two in Yorkshire, have been given financial support from the Government.
The government says that by 2020, the projects, which are the first awarded under its energy market reforms, will provide up to £12bn of private sector investment, supporting 8,500 jobs, and they could add a further 4.5GW of low-carbon electricity to Britain’s energy mix generating enough clean electricity to power over three million homes.
The conversion of one of Drax’s units at Selby is one of the projects to be granted approval, however, yesterday, the North Yorkshire power station operator said it has initiated proceedings against the government after it changed its mind over funding for the conversion of unit 3. The government said the plant did not meet all its assessment criteria for the CfD scheme.
The Hornsea offshore wind project off the East Yorkshire coast has also been successful in gaining support.
The projects have been offered under Contracts for Difference (CfD), which form part of Government’s Electricity Market Reform programme.
Energy and climate change secretary Edward Davey said: “These contracts for major renewable electricity projects mark a new stage in Britain’s green energy investment boom.
“By themselves they will bring green jobs and growth across the UK, but they are a significant part of our efforts to give Britain cleaner and more secure energy.
“These are the first investments from our reforms to build the world’s first low carbon electricity market – reforms which will see competition and markets attract tens of billions of pounds of vital energy investment whilst reducing the costs of clean energy to consumers.
“Record levels of energy investment are at the forefront of the Government’s infrastructure programme and are filling the massive gap we inherited. It’s practical reforms like these that will keep the lights on and tackle climate change, by giving investors more certainty.”
Other successful projects are:
• Beatrice offshore wind, Outer Moray Firth
• Burbo Bank offshore wind, Liverpool Bay
• Dudgeon offshore wind, north of Cromer
• Lynemouth biomass conversion, Ashington, Northumberland
• Teesside biomass with combined heat and power, Middlesbrough
• Walney extension offshore wind, off Walney island
