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Contracts for Difference, renewables obligation and small scale feed-in tariffs: apply for an exemption or compensation

How to apply for an exemption or compensation for a proportion of the indirect costs of funding the Contracts for Difference, renewables obligation and small scale feed-in tariffs.

Documents

Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: application form (part 1) (updated April 2024)

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Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: application form (part 2) (updated April 2024) (Northern Ireland only)

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Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: application form (part 2) (updated April 2024)

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Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: quarterly declaration (updated January 2024)

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Details

A number of policies have been developed to increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources including the renewables obligation, feed-in tariffs and Contracts for Difference. The costs of funding these schemes are recovered through levies on suppliers and ultimately passed on to domestic and industrial consumers’ bills.

The government recognises that, in the short to medium term, the resulting increase in retail electricity prices risks reducing the competitiveness of the UK’s most electricity-intensive businesses where they are operating in internationally competitive markets.

To address this, the government has developed an exemption scheme providing relief to some energy intensive industries (EIIs) whose competitiveness may be most at risk, for a proportion of the indirect costs of funding low carbon schemes.

How to apply

To apply for an exemption or compensation, download the application forms and compensation calculation spreadsheets. Email your completed forms to energyintensiveindustries@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

See the list of companies awarded compensation.

Updates to this page

Published 19 January 2016
Last updated 26 June 2024 + show all updates
  1. Guidance updated to include information on eligibility for the Network Charging Compensation Scheme.

  2. Document attachment Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: application form (part 2) (updated February 2024) (Northern Ireland only) updated to April 2024 version. Document attachment Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: application form (part 2) (updated January 2024) updated to April 2024 version.

  3. Guidance and form for applicants applying for an exemption from the costs of funding renewable energy policies updated to reflect the increase in the level of exemption from 85% to 100% of policy costs. It has also been updated to reflect the forthcoming capacity market exemption. The guidance also now includes new language concerning the Windsor Framework which will affect applicants with Northern Ireland operations.

  4. 'Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: application form (part 2) (updated February 2024) (Northern Ireland only)' form added to page. Unnecessary tables have been removed, and remaining tables redesigned to limit repetition. Further data validation checks have been added and scheme guidance updated.

  5. Update to 'Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: application form (part 2)': Field for company registration numbers (CRN) added. DBT branding applied, update of contact information and hyperlinks. Update to 'Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: application form (part 1)': DBT branding applied, contact information and hyperlinks updated. Update to 'Exemption for the indirect costs of Contracts for Difference, the renewables obligation, and small scale feed-in-tariffs: quarterly declaration': Unnecessary tables have been removed, and remaining tables redesigned to limit repetition. Further data validation checks have been added and scheme guidance updated.

  6. Guidance updated to reflect that the exemption schemes will be operated in compliance with the UK Subsidy Control Act and the Windsor Framework; application form updated to reflect a change to the reference price used to calculate eligibility.

  7. Guidance and application form part 2 amended: reference price used to calculate eligibility updated, changes made to ensure consistent language across our relief schemes on Ailing and Insolvent Economic Actors (AIEA) previously known as Undertakings in Difficulty.

  8. Guidance updated to reflect new Baseline Electricity Price (BEP), also known as reference price; undertakings in difficulty (UIDs) section amended regarding the application relevant period to take account of the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on businesses; part 2 application form updated to reflect the new Baseline Electricity Price

  9. Exemption guidance updated - manufacture of grain milling products added to the list of eligible sectors, and removing the automatic requirement for an Independent Accountant's Report.

  10. Exemption guidance and application form part 2 updated, to clarify the eligibility of UK applicants who have used electricity overseas or for non-UK production.

  11. Guidance and application form (part 1) updated.

  12. Documentation updated as a result of European Commission approval to move from FIT compensation to FIT exemption.

  13. August 2018 update to guidance.

  14. The renewables obligation has moved to an exemption and we have updated the guidance which previously applied only to Contracts for Difference. This guidance is effective from 1 April 2018.

  15. Updated application forms

  16. Updated guidance and forms added.

  17. Minor alterations to the application form (part 2) to ensure the regulations and the form are consistent.

  18. Updated application form.

  19. Updated application form (part 2) with new quarterly returns tab, adjusted application tab and other updates. Updated guidance document to reflect changes.

  20. Added the terms of engagement and proposed form for accountants’ reports (annexes B and C).

  21. First published.

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