 
                                                                                | Article ID: | iaor20115952 | 
| Volume: | 39 | 
| Issue: | 7 | 
| Start Page Number: | 3914 | 
| End Page Number: | 3921 | 
| Publication Date: | Jul 2011 | 
| Journal: | Energy Policy | 
| Authors: | Woodman B, Mitchell C | 
| Keywords: | public policy, sustainability, Wales, England | 
• We outline the design of the Renewables Obligation and some shortcomings. • The mechanism has performed poorly because of the risks it entails for investors. • It has been subject to several changes which increasingly challenge the original design of the RO. • Future developments may introduce even more fundamental change for supporting renewable. • Over time risks have been reduced but not yet eliminated.