THEY wanted a bold and ambitious policy and that is what campaigners got when Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse proposed a “landmark” target for half of all Scotland’s energy to come from renewables by 2030.
Launching a consultation on his Scottish Energy Strategy, Wheelhouse opened the door to the creation of a Scottish Government-owned energy company to help local and community projects grow. His plans included up to £50 million in funding for 13 projects across the country.
He confirmed that underground coal gasification (UCG), which uses technology similar to fracking to produce gas from underground coal seams, “will play no part in our energy mix”.
On the controversial issue of unconventional oil and gas, including fracking – which is subject to a Scottish Government moratorium – Wheelhouse said: “We will very shortly launch our full public consultation on unconventional oil and gas so that the people of Scotland can express their views. The results of that consultation will be a key consideration in finalising our energy strategy later this year.”
The strategy document said ministers would then “consider the full range of evidence and make a recommendation to Parliament on the future of unconventional oil and gas in Scotland, and invite members of the Scottish Parliament to vote on the issue”.
Wheelhouse told MSPs: “By the end of 2015 we had seen the largest annual increase in renewable heat output since measurement began, up by more than 1,100 gigawatt hours in a single year.
“In 2015 Scotland produced enough heat from renewable sources to meet between 5.3 per cent and 5.6 per cent of non-electrical heat demand.
“We can all take pride in such successes, however it’s clear that more progress will be required.
“To maintain momentum, a new 2030 all-energy renewables target is proposed in our energy strategy, setting an ambitious challenge to deliver the equivalent of half of Scotland’s energy requirements for heat, transport and electricity from renewable energy sources.”
Environmental groups welcomed the document, with Gina Hanrahan, from WWF Scotland, saying “it sends a strong message to business and industry, both here and globally, that Scotland plans to build on its amazing progress on renewable electricity in the heat and transport sectors”.
She added: “A transformation in how we heat our homes and offices, how we travel to work and school, and how we power our industries will generate many social and economic benefits.
“Research shows that generating half of our energy from renewables by 2030 is both necessary and achievable.”
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AIMS OF THE SCOTTISH ENERGY STRATEGY
- Deliver half of Scotland’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.
- Make Scotland’s buildings near zero carbon by 2050. l Explore creation of a government-owned energy company to help the growth of local and community projects.
- Meet the needs of those least able to pay for their energy, through supporting solutions that provide warmer homes.
- Up to £50m in funding for 13 projects across Scotland demonstrating low carbon or renewable electricity, heating or storage solutions.
- Continued support for the recovery of North Sea oil and gas as a highly regulated source of hydrocarbon fuels.
- Support for demonstration and commercialisation of Carbon Capture and Storage and CO2 Utilisation.
- Exploring the role of new energy sources and increasing the flexibility, efficiency, and resilience of the energy system as a whole
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Dr Richard Dixon, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, welcomed the strategy, and added: “With 50 per cent of all energy to come from renewables by 2030 and 100 per cent of our electricity well before then, this plan sets us firmly on course to becoming one of the leading low-carbon nations in the world.”
Jenny Hogan, director of policy at Scottish Renewables, said the document was “a landmark moment in Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon economy”.
She said: “Setting a new target for renewables to deliver half of our energy needs by 2030 sends a strong signal that renewable energy will be at the heart of Scotland’s economy and is key to meeting our climate change targets at lowest cost.”
The strategy set out a “renewed focus” on energy efficiency, and pledged to make Scotland’s buildings almost zero carbon by 2050.
However, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said the government should set minimum energy-efficiency standards for all of Scotland’s homes.
Policy lead David Stewart said: “Not only is increasing home energy efficiency the most cost-effective way to lower carbon emissions, it reduces fuel poverty and creates jobs.”
Lori McElroy, chair of the Existing Homes Alliance, added: “With the right support in place we could see all Scottish homes brought up to an acceptable standard by 2025.”
Views are being sought on the future of onshore wind development, challenging the renewables industry to make Scotland the first area in the UK to host commercial onshore wind development without subsidy.
The strategy also suggested Scotland could take advantage of emerging ways of using hydrocarbons, for example in powering fuel cells in cars, and said the government will work with industry to look at opportunities for small-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Scotland
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