The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2007

Procedure and calculations for issue of SROCs

22.—(1) The Authority shall, when issuing SROCs (other than replacement SROCs certifying the matters within section 32B(2), (2A) or (2AB) of the Act, which shall be issued in accordance with article 24(4)(b) and (6))–

(a) allocate a number (“the SROC sequence number”) to each SROC issued;

(b) allocate SROC sequence numbers sequentially in ascending numerical order–

(i) where the SROCs are to be issued in respect of electricity generated from eligible renewable sources by two or more generating stations which constitute a group for the purposes of article 21, to all the SROCs issued in respect of that group in a particular month; and

(ii) in all other cases, to all the SROCs issued in respect of electricity generated from eligible renewable sources by a particular generating station in a particular month; and

(c) in the case of a generating station which in a particular month generates electricity from eligible renewable sources under or in compliance with a qualifying arrangement, issue SROCs in respect of that month–

(i) firstly to the electricity suppliers to whom article 16(4) or (5) applies in that month on the basis of information provided to it by the nominated person; and

(ii) thereafter, in the event that the generating station generates any electricity from eligible renewable sources in that month other than under a qualifying arrangement or which in that month is not required in compliance with such an arrangement to be made available to the nominated person, to the operator of that generating station.

(2) Where it issues SROCs pursuant to this Part the Authority shall–

(a) determine the amount of electricity which is to be regarded as having been generated from eligible renewable sources by a generating station in a particular month (“the relevant month”) pursuant to article 10;

(b) deduct from the amount determined in accordance with sub paragraph (a) any electricity in respect of which in the relevant month any of the relevant criteria in article 18(1) were not satisfied;

(c) (i) where any SROC to be issued will certify the matters within section 32B(2ZA), (2AA) or (2AC) of the Act, determine the amount of electricity which results from the calculations in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) in respect of each of the generating stations to which the SROC relates, add the amounts so determined together, and round the sum of those amounts to the nearest megawatt hour (with any exact half megawatt being rounded upwards); and

(ii) in all other cases, determine the amount of electricity which results from the calculations in sub paragraphs (a) and (b) and round the amount so determined to the nearest megawatt hour (with any exact half megawatt hour being rounded upwards);

(d) determine the number of SROCs which it is appropriate to issue for the amount of electricity determined pursuant to sub-paragraph (c) on the basis that one SROC represents one megawatt hour of electricity; and

(e) issue the appropriate number of SROCs determined pursuant to sub-paragraph (d) to whomever it is required to issue them by virtue of article 16 or 17.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4), (5) and (6), for the purpose of making the determination in paragraph (2)(a) the Authority shall use in the case of the amounts for “gross output” and “input electricity” (as those two expressions are defined in article 10(7)) either–

(a) the most accurate figures for those amounts which are provided to the Authority at the end of the second month following the end of the relevant month (“the relevant date”); or

(b) where the operator of the generating station satisfies the Authority by the relevant date that it will never be possible for it to provide accurate figures, such figures as are estimated by the operator or, as the case may be, agent by the relevant date on a basis agreed in advance by the Authority.

(4) Where figures are neither provided under paragraph (3)(a) nor estimated under paragraph (3)(b) the Authority may, in circumstances which it considers exceptional, accept figures which the operator of the generating station provides after the relevant date.

(5) Where figures are provided under paragraph (3)(a) or accepted under paragraph (4) and, before the Authority makes a determination under paragraph (2)(a), the Authority becomes aware of figures which it considers to be more accurate, the Authority may, where it considers appropriate, accept the later figures and make determinations under paragraph (2)(a) to (d) on the basis of the later figures.

(6) Where the Authority makes a determination under paragraph (2)(a) on the basis of figures provided under paragraph (3)(a) or accepted under paragraph (4) or (5) and the Authority subsequently becomes aware of figures which it considers to be more accurate, the Authority–

(a) may, where it considers appropriate, accept the later figures and make new determinations under paragraphs (2)(a) to (d); and

(b) shall, where the new determination under paragraph (2)(d) differs from the original determination under that provision, either–

(i) if it has not already issued SROCs under paragraph (2)(e), issue SROCs under that paragraph in accordance with the new determination;

(ii) revoke SROCs in accordance with article 22 where it has issued too many; or

(iii) issue additional SROCs in accordance with paragraph (2)(e) where it has issued too few.

(7) SROCs in respect of the relevant month shall be issued no earlier than the relevant date.