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Energy Bill


Energy Bill
Part 1 — Gas Importation and Storage
Chapter 3 — Storage of carbon dioxide

15

 

(2)   

Information is not to be included in the register if the Secretary of State thinks

that disclosure of the information—

(a)   

would be contrary to the interests of national security, or

(b)   

would prejudice to an unreasonable degree a person’s commercial

interests.

5

(3)   

Information excluded from the register by virtue of subsection (2)(b) is treated,

subject to subsection (4), as ceasing to prejudice a person’s commercial

interests at the end of the period of 4 years beginning with the date on which

the Secretary of State made the decision to exclude it.

(4)   

The Secretary of State may, on the application of the person whose commercial

10

interests are affected, decide whether the information should be included in

the register at the end of the period mentioned in subsection (3) or should

continue to be excluded.

(5)   

Where information of any description is excluded from the register by virtue

of subsection (2)(b), a statement is to be included in the register indicating the

15

existence of information of that description.

(6)   

The Secretary of State must—

(a)   

secure that the register maintained under this section is available for

inspection by the public free of charge, and

(b)   

afford to members of the public facilities for obtaining copies of entries,

20

on payment of a fee.

(7)   

In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the

Secretary of State.

Abandonment of offshore installations

29      

Abandonment of installations

25

(1)   

Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (c. 17) (“the 1998 Act”) applies in relation to a

carbon storage installation as it applies in relation to an offshore installation

within the meaning given by section 44 of the 1998 Act.

(2)   

But the Secretary of State may make regulations providing that Part 4 of the

1998 Act applies in relation to a carbon storage installation with such

30

modifications as may be specified in the regulations.

(3)   

In this section, “carbon storage installation” means an installation established

or maintained for the purposes of an activity mentioned in section 16(2)(a), (b)

or (c).

Termination of the licence

35

30      

Termination of licence: regulations

(1)   

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision—

(a)   

about the circumstances in which a licence may be terminated;

(b)   

imposing obligations on the Secretary of State in respect of a carbon

storage facility on or after the termination of a licence relating to the

40

facility.

 
 

Energy Bill
Part 1 — Gas Importation and Storage
Chapter 3 — Storage of carbon dioxide

16

 

(2)   

Regulations under this section may, in particular, make provision about

financial arrangements to be made in relation to a closed carbon storage facility

on or after the termination of a licence relating to the facility.

(3)   

A licence has effect subject to any regulations under this section.

Miscellaneous

5

31      

Safety zones

Sections 21, 23 and 24 of the Petroleum Act 1987 (c. 12) (safety zones) apply in

relation to a carbon storage installation as they apply in relation to an

installation within section 21(1) of that Act.

32      

Enhanced petroleum recovery: power to make orders

10

(1)   

The use of carbon dioxide, in a controlled place, for a purpose ancillary to

getting petroleum is to be regarded as—

(a)   

an activity within section 16(2), or

(b)   

the storage of gas for the purposes of section 1(3)(b),

   

only in the circumstances specified by the Secretary of State by order.

15

(2)   

Subsection (1) and orders made under it are without prejudice to Part 1 of the

Petroleum Act 1998 (c. 17).

(3)   

An order under subsection (1) may provide that the use of carbon dioxide, in a

designated place, for a purpose ancillary to getting petroleum is to be

regarded, for the purposes of this Chapter, as the use of carbon dioxide in a

20

controlled place for such a purpose.

(4)   

A designated place means a place designated by the order which is a place in,

under or over waters in an area designated under section 1(7) of the

Continental Shelf Act 1964 (c. 29), other than waters in a Gas Importation and

Storage Zone.

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(5)   

In this section “petroleum” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Petroleum

Act 1998.

33      

Power of Secretary of State to transfer functions

(1)   

The Secretary of State may by order transfer to another person any function

conferred on the Secretary of State by or under this Chapter, other than a power

30

to make regulations or an order.

(2)   

A function transferred by an order under subsection (1) reverts to the Secretary

of State if the order is revoked.

(3)   

An order under subsection (1) may—

(a)   

transfer different functions to different persons;

35

(b)   

transfer functions to a person in respect of all activities within section

16(2) or only specified activities;

(c)   

transfer the same function to different persons in respect of different

activities;

(d)   

transfer functions to different persons in respect of different places.

40

(4)   

An order under subsection (1) may—

 
 

Energy Bill
Part 1 — Gas Importation and Storage
Chapter 4 — General provisions about gas importation and storage

17

 

(a)   

provide for the Secretary of State to make payments to a person to

whom a function has been transferred in respect of the person’s

expenditure in connection with the exercise of the function;

(b)   

require any fee paid to such a person under this Chapter to be paid into

the Consolidated Fund;

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(c)   

make such modifications of section 188 of the Energy Act 2004 (c. 20)

(power to impose charges to fund energy functions), or any regulations

made under that section, as the Secretary of State considers appropriate

in consequence of the transfer of a function by virtue of this section.

(5)   

The Secretary of State may give a direction to a person to whom functions have

10

been transferred under subsection (1) about—

(a)   

whether, or in what circumstances, a function specified in the direction

is to be carried out;

(b)   

the manner in which a function specified in the direction is to be carried

out.

15

(6)   

A direction under subsection (5) may be general or specific.

(7)   

The Secretary of State may not give a direction under subsection (5) without

first consulting the person to whom the Secretary of State proposes to give the

direction.

Interpretation

20

34      

Chapter 3: interpretation

(1)   

In this Chapter—

“carbon storage facility” has the meaning given by section 19(8);

“carbon storage installation” has the meaning given by section 29(3);

“closure”, in relation to a carbon storage facility, has the meaning given by

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section 19(8);

“controlled place” has the meaning given by section 16(3);

“Gas Importation and Storage Zone” means an area designated under

section 1(5);

“installation” includes any floating structure or device maintained on a

30

station by whatever means;

“licence” means a licence granted under section 17(1), and “licence

holder” is to be construed accordingly.

(2)   

An Order in Council under section 126(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46)

(apportionment of sea areas) has effect for the purposes of this Chapter if, or to

35

the extent that, the Order is expressed to apply—

(a)   

for the general or residual purposes of that Act, or

(b)   

by virtue of this subsection, for the purposes of this Chapter.

Chapter 4

General provisions about gas importation and storage

40

35      

Chapters 2 and 3: consequential amendments

Schedule 1 contains amendments relating to Chapters 2 and 3.

 
 

Energy Bill
Part 2 — Electricity from renewable sources

18

 

Part 2

Electricity from renewable sources

The renewables obligation

36      

The renewables obligation

For sections 32 to 32C of the Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29) substitute—

5

“32     

The renewables obligation

(1)   

The Secretary of State may make a renewables obligation order.

(2)   

A renewables obligation order is an order which imposes the

renewables obligation on each electricity supplier falling within a

specified description (a “designated electricity supplier”).

10

(3)   

The descriptions of electricity supplier upon which a renewables

obligation order may impose the renewables obligation are those

supplying electricity—

(a)   

in Great Britain,

(b)   

in England and Wales, or

15

(c)   

in Scotland,

   

excluding such categories of supplier (if any) as are specified.

(4)   

The renewables obligation is that the designated electricity supplier

must, by each specified day, have produced to the Authority the

required number of renewables obligation certificates in respect of—

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(a)   

the amount of electricity supplied by it to customers in Great

Britain during a specified period, or

(b)   

if the order imposes the renewables obligation only on those

supplying electricity in a part of Great Britain, the amount of

electricity supplied by it to customers in that part during a

25

specified period.

(5)   

Subsection (4) is subject to sections 32A to 32M.

32A     

Further provision about the renewables obligation

(1)   

A renewables obligation order may make provision generally in

relation to the renewables obligation.

30

(2)   

A renewables obligation order may, in particular, specify—

(a)   

how the number of renewables obligation certificates required

to be produced by an electricity supplier in respect of the

amount of electricity supplied by it to customers in Great

Britain during a specified period is to be calculated;

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(b)   

different obligations for successive periods of time;

(c)   

that renewables obligation certificates issued in respect of

electricity generated—

(i)   

using specified descriptions of renewable sources,

(ii)   

by specified descriptions of generating stations,

40

(iii)   

in specified ways, or

(iv)   

in other specified cases or circumstances,

 
 

Energy Bill
Part 2 — Electricity from renewable sources

19

 

   

are to count towards discharging an electricity supplier’s

obligation only up to a specified number, or a specified

proportion, of the certificates required to be produced to

discharge the obligation;

(d)   

that a specified number, or a specified proportion, of the

5

renewables obligation certificates produced by an electricity

supplier when discharging its renewables obligation must be

certificates in respect of electricity generated—

(i)   

using specified descriptions of renewable sources,

(ii)   

by specified descriptions of generating station,

10

(iii)   

in specified ways, or

(iv)   

in other specified cases or circumstances;

(e)   

how the amount of electricity supplied by an electricity supplier

to customers in Great Britain during a specified period is to be

calculated;

15

(f)   

that specified information, or information of a specified nature,

is to be given to the Authority;

(g)   

the form in which such information is to be given and the time

by which it is to be given.

(3)   

A renewables obligation certificate may count once only towards the

20

discharge of the renewables obligation.

(4)   

If a renewables obligation order applies only to electricity suppliers in

a part of Great Britain, it may specify that the only renewables

obligation certificates which count towards discharging the renewables

obligation are certificates which are issued—

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(a)   

in respect of electricity supplied to customers in that part of

Great Britain, or

(b)   

in respect of electricity used in a permitted way (within the

meaning of section 32B(9) and (10)) in that part of Great Britain.

(5)   

A renewables obligation order may, in relation to any specified period

30

(“the current period”)—

(a)   

provide that renewables obligation certificates in respect of

electricity supplied in a later period may, when available, be

counted towards discharging the renewables obligation for the

current period;

35

(b)   

provide that renewables obligation certificates in respect of

electricity supplied in the current period may, in a later period,

be counted towards discharging the renewables obligation for

that period;

(c)   

specify how much later the later period referred to in paragraph

40

(a) or (b) may be;

(d)   

specify a maximum proportion of the renewables obligation for

any period which may be discharged as mentioned in

paragraph (a) or (b);

(e)   

specify a maximum proportion, or maximum number of, the

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renewables obligation certificates issued in respect of electricity

supplied in any period which may be counted towards

discharging the renewables obligation for a different period.

(6)   

For the purposes of subsection (5) a certificate which certifies that

electricity has been used in a permitted way (within the meaning of

50

 
 

Energy Bill
Part 2 — Electricity from renewable sources

20

 

section 32B(9) and (10)) in a particular period is to be treated as if it were

a certificate which certifies that electricity has been supplied in that

period.

32B     

Renewables obligation certificates

(1)   

A renewables obligation order may provide for the Authority to issue

5

from time to time, in accordance with such criteria (if any) as are

specified in the order, a certificate (“a renewables obligation

certificate”) to—

(a)   

the operator of a generating station,

(b)   

an electricity supplier or a Northern Ireland supplier, or

10

(c)   

if the order so provides, a person of any other description

specified in the order.

(2)   

A renewables obligation certificate is to certify—

(a)   

the matters within subsection (3) or (4), or

(b)   

if the order provides that a certificate may certify the matters

15

within subsection (5), (6), (7) or (8), the matters within that

subsection.

(3)   

The matters within this subsection are—

(a)   

that the generating station, or, in the case of a certificate issued

otherwise than to the operator of a generating station, a

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generating station specified in the certificate, has generated

from renewable sources the amount of electricity stated in the

certificate, and

(b)   

that it has been supplied by an electricity supplier to customers

in Great Britain (or the part of Great Britain stated in the

25

certificate).

(4)   

The matters within this subsection are—

(a)   

that the generating station, or, in the case of a certificate issued

otherwise than to the operator of a generating station, a

generating station specified in the certificate, has generated

30

from renewable sources the amount of electricity stated in the

certificate,

(b)   

that the generating station in question is not a generating station

mentioned in Article 54(1) of the Energy (Northern Ireland)

Order 2003, and

35

(c)   

that the electricity has been supplied by a Northern Ireland

supplier to customers in Northern Ireland.

(5)   

The matters within this subsection are—

(a)   

that two or more generating stations have, between them,

generated from renewable sources the amount of electricity

40

stated in the certificate, and

(b)   

that it has been supplied by an electricity supplier to customers

in Great Britain (or the part of Great Britain stated in the

certificate).

(6)   

The matters within this subsection are—

45

(a)   

that two or more generating stations have, between them,

generated from renewable sources the amount of electricity

stated in the certificate,

 
 

Energy Bill
Part 2 — Electricity from renewable sources

21

 

(b)   

that none of them is a generating station mentioned in Article

54(1) of the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, and

(c)   

that the electricity has been supplied by a Northern Ireland

supplier to customers in Northern Ireland.

(7)   

The matters within this subsection are—

5

(a)   

that the generating station, or, in the case of a certificate issued

otherwise than to the operator of a generating station, a

generating station specified in the certificate, has generated

from renewables sources the amount of electricity stated in the

certificate, and

10

(b)   

that the electricity has been used in a permitted way.

(8)   

The matters within this subsection are—

(a)   

that two or more generating stations have, between them,

generated from renewables sources the amount of electricity

stated in the certificate, and

15

(b)   

that the electricity has been used in a permitted way.

(9)   

For the purposes of subsections (7) and (8), electricity generated by a

generating station, or generating stations, of any description is used in

a permitted way if—

(a)   

it is used in one of the ways mentioned in subsection (10), and

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(b)   

that way is specified in the order as a permitted way—

(i)   

in relation to all generating stations, or

(ii)   

in relation to generating stations of that description.

(10)   

Those ways are—

(a)   

being consumed by the operator of the generating station or

25

generating stations by which it was generated;

(b)   

being supplied to customers in Great Britain through a private

wire network;

(c)   

being provided to a distribution system or a transmission

system in circumstances in which its supply to customers

30

cannot be demonstrated;

(d)   

being used, as respects part, as mentioned in one of paragraph

(a), (b) or (c) and as respects the remainder—

(i)   

as mentioned in one of the other paragraphs, or

(ii)   

as respects part, as mentioned in one of the other

35

paragraphs and as respects the remainder as mentioned

in the other;

(e)   

being used, as respects part, as mentioned in paragraph (a), (b),

(c) or (d) and as respects the remainder by being supplied by an

electricity supplier to customers in Great Britain or by a

40

Northern Ireland supplier to customers in Northern Ireland, or

both.

(11)   

For the purposes of subsection (10)(b) electricity is supplied through a

private wire network if it is conveyed to premises by a system which is

used for conveying electricity from a generating station in

45

circumstances where—

(a)   

the operator of the generating station is exempt from section

4(1)(c) and does not hold a supply licence, and

(b)   

the electricity is supplied to one or more customers—

 
 

 
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