Transmission charging and growth of renewables in the UK

This paper discusses the main results and conclusions from the work commissioned by UK government's Department of Trade and Industry to quantify the effect of the proposed GB-wide transmission charging methodology on the future growth of renewable electricity so as to ascertain the impact on the likelihood of meeting the Government's 2010 renewable target. The charges were simulated until 2015 and then incorporated into both a static investment model, and a dynamic market investment model for the renewable obligation, with the impacts assessed against a range of financial and planning scenarios. The conclusion was that a dispensation from high charges in Scotland, if applied, would not significantly change the level of UK renewable capacity.