Wednesday 20 March 2013

Strike price for renewables could be set ‘too low’ warns SSE

Energy supplier SSE's Head of Policy warned yesterday about the prospect of "too low" support for renewable energy in the Government's new policy for low carbon power.

While attention has naturally focused on the 'strike price' the Government will set for nuclear power and if this cost will be too high, the Scottish provider is concerned the opposite will be the case for wind and solar power.

Speaking at marketforce's Future of Utilities event yesterday afternoon, Dr Keith MacLean (pictured) said: "Strike prices for renewables could be set too low."

He warned the industry "hasn't thought enough about the transition" from existing energy supplies to new generation, suggesting there is now "a hiatus" between the two.

SSE has a large programme of renewables and a fifth of its generation assets come from such energy sources.