Government confirms plan to close Renewables Obligation to onshore wind in 2016

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The government has confirmed that it intends to close the Renewables Obligation to new onshore wind a year earlier than planned.

The department of energy and climate change (Decc) today said that closure would apply across the UK and not just in England and Wales.

Previously there had been doubt about whether it would apply to Scotland.

Decc said that up to 5.2GW of projects in the planning system may still qualify for the subsidy, which it will otherwise legislate to close to all new onshore wind projects from 1 April 2016.

The early closure of the scheme has provoked outcry from renewables developers, who may now mount a legal challenge.

Decc said it made the changes because the UK was on track to meet its targets for renewable energy.

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