The government will take additional action to help independent renewable generators gain entry to the electricity market, in order to promote competition and innovation, Greg Barker has announced.

An amendment has been tabled to the Energy Bill that will make it easier for independent generators of renewable electricity to sell their power to suppliers via Power Purchase Agreements, thereby improving their access to market.


Energy Minister, Greg Barker said: "The Coalition is committed to driving much greater plurality, innovation and competition in the electricity market.

"Our new reforms will create the framework for a far more dynamic and entrepreneurial market, while still ensuring that we get the large scale investment that industry needs.

"Opening up the electricity market to more competition is a fundamental part of the reforms we are introducing through the Energy Bill.

"It will also allow new smaller players to gain a greater share of the exciting renewable electricity market."

Independent generators do not usually have a strong supply arm that sells electricity direct to consumers and have been finding it hard to enter the market which is dominated by the 'Big 6' vertically integrated energy companies.

(CD/JP)