The UK Government has announced a grace period for onshore wind projects affected by the closure of the Renewables Obligation (RO).

The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) is to push ahead with its commitment to end public subsidies for onshore wind farms by closing the RO from 01 April.

However, in amendments to the Energy Bill, the DECC estimates around 2.9GW of onshore wind capacity will be eligible for the grace periods.

The projects that are eligible for the grace period will need to demonstrate either they:

• Had planning consent as of 18 June;

• That they have successfully appealed a planning refusal made on or before 18 June;

• Or that they have successfully appealed after not receiving a planning decision due by 18 June.

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They will also need to show that they had a grid connection and land rights in place.

Projects that have met all the criteria and can demonstrate that they have struggled to secure finance from lenders since 18 June will be allowed extra time, but no longer than nine months.

The DECC added the amount of onshore wind capacity that could be deployed by 2020 is 12.3GW, on schedule with government renewable energy commitments.

Michael Riely, Senior Policy Manager for Scottish Renewables, said it is clear the government is seeking to address some of the consequences of its decision to close the RO.

"However, many of our members will be bitterly disappointed that ministers are not going to allow projects which have submitted planning applications to be given a grace period," he added.

"It is still our position that the UK Government's rationale for removing financial support for onshore wind was unjustified. It is a course of actions that will, according to their own assessments, save just 30p on annual consumer energy bills and increase the UK's carbon emissions by 63 million tonnes.

"Renewables remain key to meeting our long term and legally binding climate change targets, and it is vital that the Government sets out a long term plan to support the growth of the industry as we approach the climate change talks in Paris in December."

(LM/MH)