In accordance with the Regulations, Ofgem issues REGOs based on the percentage of electricity produced by certain producing stations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland that use “qualifying renewable energy sources.”
A qualified renewable generating station must first receive Ofgem accreditation before they may issue REGOs to it.
They are only permitted to issue REGOs for electricity generated by a producing station in Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland) and Northern Ireland using renewable energy sources.
Only the part of an electricity producing station’s output that comes from qualified renewable energy sources will be eligible for REGOs.
Ofgem will grant REGOs based on gross generation if a station produces all of its power from qualifying renewable energy sources. They shall only award REGOs for the share of power produced by qualified renewable energy sources at a station that also produces electricity from other sources (pumped/filled storage systems are the only exception).
Types of Energy Sources
Here you can find out what type of Energy Sources Ofgem gives energy too.
Renewables
Eligible renewable energy sources are Renewable non-fossil energy sources, that is:
- Wind
- Solar
- Aerothermal
- Geothermal
- Hydrothermal
- Ocean energy
- Hydropower
- Biomass
- Landfill gas
- Sewage treatment plant gas
- Biogases”
The 2009 Directive changed the definition, and this became effective in GB and NI on December 5, 2010. The phrase “ocean energy” was added to the definition in place of the terms “tidal and wave power,” which had previously been mentioned, and aerothermal and hydrothermal as additional sources of renewable energy.
Pumped/filled storage systems
REGOs can only be used for power produced from water that hasn’t already been pumped uphill to fill the storage system in the case of pumped or filled storage systems, i.e., natural runoff.
The producing station operator is in charge of making sure that records are kept for audit reasons about the amount of eligible and ineligible power produced by filling such storage devices.
Biomass and Waste Stations
For the purpose of seeking REGOs, trash and biomass are both permissible renewable energy sources.
The Regulations define “biodegradable fraction” as “the biodegradable fraction of biological products, waste, and residues from agriculture (including vegetal and animal substances), forestry, and related industries, including fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste.”
The 2009 Directive included biological remains from agricultural and related enterprises, such as fisheries and aquaculture, to the definition.
Based on the renewable portion (the biodegradable component of the biomass or trash) of the power generated, stations that produce energy from biomass or waste can apply for REGOs. To determine the renewable share, the generating station operator must have adequate fuel metering and sampling procedures in place.
Accreditation
Ofgem must be convinced that the power in question was produced via a renewable source before issuing a REGO.
Given this, they will ask the operator of a producing station to give them the bulk of the data listed in Schedule 1 prior to issuing a REGO.
This must contain any further information or proof that we reasonably need in order to verify the veracity of the information supplied or to convince us that the renewable energy source being utilised to produce electricity is legitimate. A form for applying for accreditation is used to seek this information.
Applying for Accreditation
The operator of the generating station must first create an account on the Register before submitting an application for accreditation. In the Renewables and CHP Register User Guide, which is available on the Ofgem website, there are instructions on how to do this task as well as other Register operations.
The application form chooses the questions that each producing station must respond to depending on the station’s specifics.
The majority of the information needed to submit a request for the issuance of REGOs will be provided to Ofgem through prior questions asked.
Typically, as part of the certification procedure, generating stations that use waste or biomass must also finish a “Fuel Measurement and Sampling Questionnaire.”
The account super user must digitally sign a “Information Declaration” before submitting the application to Ofgem. Once an application is filed, you will receive an email from us confirming receipt of the application and the date of receipt.
Within 10 working days of receiving your application, Ofgem will make every effort to assess it initially and, if further information is needed, request it.
Even if the generating station is determined to be qualified for REGOs, they declare that they cannot guarantee a timeline for obtaining accreditation.
What happens next?
The operator of the generating station must be told that the accreditation has been accepted after Ofgem is satisfied that a generating station is eligible for REGOs.
The letter will provide the station’s unique identification number (its accreditation ID) as well as the accreditation date, which is the first day REGO requests can be made. The issuance of REGOs is not assured by accreditation in and of itself. That will depend on the output data’s timely submission and compliance with all regulations.
A unique REGO accreditation ID is created by the Register upon submission of an application for accreditation.
The format of the accreditation ID can be explained as follows:
- G (to denote the certificate is a REGO) Unique station number (to denote the station that generated the renewable electricity)
- Technology code (to denote the renewable energy source used to generate electricity)
- Country code (to denote the country of generation).
The accreditation ID will be set out in all REGOs issued for renewable electricity generated by the individual generating station. Appendix 2 gives the technology and country codes.
What reasons would a station not be accredited?
REGOs cannot be issued for generation in GB before 27 October 2003 i.e. when the Regulations came into force. For generation in NI, REGOs cannot be issued for generation prior to 1 January 2009 i.e. when we took over administration of NI REGOs.
If they are not convinced that a generating station can produce power from qualified renewable energy sources in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, they will decline to certify it. Additionally, if the application was submitted illegally or by a party that was not authorised to do so, they will decline to accredit the generating station.
Maintaining Accreditation
You are expected to let Ofgem know if any information or supporting documentation that was submitted for accreditation reasons has changed.
As soon as the change occurs, the generator must update the application for accreditation for the producing station on the Register. Generators should be sure to supply an updated schematic model illustrating the generating facilities and metering if there are technical modifications to the station. Once modified, we’ll assess the adjustments and let you know if the station is still qualified to receive REGOs.
The issuing of REGOs will be put on hold while we determine whether the updated information impacts eligibility.
Annual Declaration
To keep their accreditation, Ofgem need all generating stations that claim REGOs to sign an Information Declaration by the first of April every year.
The account super user electronically signs this declaration on the Register. The Renewables and CHP Register will be updated with reminders to let generators know when to sign the declaration.
This declaration asks operators to declare that:
- If the generating station or fuel used by the generating station is altered or updated in any way they will notify the Authority within two weeks of the alteration occurring
- Any information and/or calculations submitted to the Authority, including any information which is provided in order to determine the amount of electricity generated from eligible renewable resources, will be complete and accurate.
- They will not knowingly or recklessly submit information which is false and they are aware that doing so could result in a criminal prosecution.