The UK government has proposed severe cuts to incentives for new anaerobic digestion plants from January 2017.
DECC plans to cut the feed-in tariffs for large plants over 500kW by 100% and reduce those for smaller facilities by 27%, compared with current rates.
Such tariffs are likely to end many new anaerobic digestion projects planned in the country, the Renewable Energy Association said.
The proposed rates for small and medium scale plants are 46% and 35% lower, respectively, than the minimum viable levels recommended by the REA in the 2015 tariff review.
“This is a huge blow to the rural economy, circular economy, and to the growth of this source of low-carbon energy,” REA head of policy James Court said.
“Biogas is a domestic source of low-carbon energy, is delivering new electricity and heat capacity now, and has strong public support, yet faces drastic cuts.”
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