Legislation
Legislation listing
Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments and Bills relevant to the renewable energy sector
The following list shows the primary UK legislative instruments relevant to the renewable energy industry.
These are the UK wide and England legislative measures. For measures specific to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, refer to the Devolved legislation section.
[To save space the abbreviation R O replaces Renewables Obligation and RTFO replaces Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation in all titles]
|
Title |
Year |
Reference |
Main relevant provisions |
| Climate Change Act |
2008 |
Setting targets for emissions reductions. Establishing a Carbon Committee to monitor progress and advise on policy |
|
| Energy Act |
2008 |
Provisions for nuclear decommissioning and new build. Changes (including banding) to the Renewables Obligation. And late amendments to introduce Renewable Energy Tariffs for electricity, heat and biogas (in response to a campaign by the REA and others) and changes to the regulator's remit. |
|
| Heritage Protection Bill | 2008 | The Bill would reform and unify the terrestrial and marine heritage protection systems across the UK | |
| Planning Act |
2008 |
Establishment of Infrastructure Planning Commission to handle planning for major infrastructure projects. Establishment of National Policy Statements (including one on renewables) and other 'streamlining' masures. |
|
| Planning and Energy Act |
2008 |
Confirms the power of local authorities to set sustainable energy targets as planning conditions (such as the Merton Rule). Originally introduced as a private member's bill by Michael Fallon MP. |
|
| Marine Bill |
2008 |
Statutory basis for marine spacial planning, criteria for consenting and decommissioning offshore renewables projects | |
| RTFO Order |
2007 |
Introduces the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation with effect from 15th April 2008 | |
| R O Order 2006 (Amendment) Order | 2007 | Various 'technical' changes to the R O | |
| Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act |
2006 |
Various measures on microgeneration, promotion of renewable heat, access to ROCs for small generators. Originally introduced as a private member's bill by Mark Lazarovich MP. |
|
| R O Order |
2006 |
Various 'technical' changes to the R O | |
| R O Order |
2005 |
To extend the RO quotas from 2011 to 2016, to detail inter-relations with the NIRO | |
| Energy Act |
2004 |
Enabling introduction of Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, introduction of RO in Northern Ireland, renewable plant outside territorial waters, buy-out fund safeguards - and lots about nuclear decommissioning | |
| Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act |
2004 |
Enabled Building Regulations to make special provisions for energy sustainability. First introduced as a private member's bill by Andrew Stunnel MP. |
|
| R O (Amendment) Order |
2004 |
Various 'technical changes' to the R O including extension of the co-firing periods | |
|
The Landfill (Scheme Year and Maximum Landfill Amount) Regulations |
2004 |
A trading scheme for landfill | |
| Sustainable Energy Act |
2003 |
To set various sustainable energy targets. To release £60m from the NFFO surplus for renewable energy. Originbally introduced as a private member's bill by Brian White MP. |
|
| Waste and Emissions Trading Act |
2003 |
Limits the amount of waste that can be diverted to landfil and enables the introduction of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme | |
| R O Order |
2002 |
Introduces the Renewables Obligation in England and Wales with effect from 1st April 2002 | |
| Utilities Act |
2000 |
Replaced above clauses in the Electricity Act to enable the Renewables ObligationRenewables Obligation | |
| Electricity Act |
1989 |
1989 c.29 |
Enables Govt. to place requirement on suppliers, facilitating the introduction of NFFO. |