ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to meeting half of Scotland’s energy needs through renewables by 2030.

 

Nicola Sturgeon said the government was now seeking views on how to meet the new target by utilising renewable energy across electricity, heat and transport.

WWF Scotland hailed the commitment as sending a “strong message to business and industry, both here and globally, that renewables are at the heart of Scotland’s economic policy”.

Dr Sam Gardner, acting director of WWF Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to hear the First Minister reaffirm her Government’s commitment to meeting half of Scotland’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.

“Choosing the iconic All Energy Conference to make the announcement sends a strong message to business and industry, both here and globally, that renewables are at the heart of Scotland’s economic policy and that Scotland plans to expand its amazing progress on renewable electricity into the heat and transport sectors.”

The consultation on the draft energy strategy is open until May 30. The First Minister also revealed details of a £43 million investment in low-carbon infrastructure.

Shared across 13 projects, the funding, awarded by the low carbon infrastructure transition programme (LCITP), will be matched by a minimum of £43 million from private and public-sector partners.

Projects include a local energy system on Fair Isle, an energy storage project in Shetland and low-carbon heat networks in Dundee, Stirling, Clydebank and Glenrothes.

Speaking at the All Energy Conference in Glasgow, Sturgeon said: “These projects have great potential to help us tackle climate change and remain at the forefront of low carbon and renewable innovation.

“Scotland has some of the most ambitious emissions reduction targets in the world.

“Over the past 10 years, our pattern of energy consumption has changed considerably, helping us to meet - and exceed – our 2020 target for reducing energy consumption six years early.

“We are determined to build on this success and we are now seeking views on a new target through our draft energy strategy – for 50 per cent of our energy consumption – spanning heat, transport and electricity to be met by renewables by 2030. With Scotland’s world-leading expertise in renewables, which employs at least 11,000 people, and a growing workforce of at least 58,000 in the low carbon sector, I am confident of our future success.”

Dave Pearson, director at Star Renewable Energy, welcomed the support and added: “Star has been trying to replicate the success of its river heat pump in Norway for some time but has struggled to progress a similar example in Scotland.”