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Executive calls for renewables to be developed faster and to go further than existing targets

Renewables industry considers response to new planning framework for renewables

Monday 10 July 2006

     

Scottish Renewables, Scotland's green energy trade body, and the British Wind Energy Association, responded to the publication of the Scottish Executive's consultation on new planning rules today.

Both welcomed the Scottish Executive's desire to go beyond the 40% renewable electricity target but will now consider the detail of the new planning framework being proposed.

Maf Smith, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables said: "Scottish Ministers clearly understand that renewables are delivering benefits across Scotland and that delivery to date has been successful and welcomed by the vast majority of Scots. Scotland wants to see 40% of its electricity coming from renewables, and we now look forward to commenting on the detail of the consultation to help ensure individual policies will deliver."

Chris Tomlinson, Director of Operations for BWEA, said: "Scotland is the powerhouse for the UK renewables industry and we welcome the Executive's recognition of this by bringing forward the delivery date for Scotland's 40% renewable energy target."

Key points in the draft of Scottish Planning Policy Six (SPP6) are as follows:

  • Ministers do not see the 40% target for 2020 as a limit, but would like to see this delivered within the lifetime of SPP6. Planning Policies normally apply for between five and seven years, meaning delivery of this target by 2015 at the latest
  • Local authorities will be asked to draw up "Broad Areas of Search" to guide wind farm development
  • ocal authorities are being given more detail on how to decide on bioenergy proposals
  • Ministers are consulting on whether to set a 10% target for microgeneration in new buildings

Commenting on these key points, Mr Smith said: "We are particularly pleased to see that Ministers want to see their 40% target delivered early. To say that the 40% target should be achieved within the life of this plan means delivery by 2015 at the latest, which certainly throws down the gauntlet to industry and local authorities to continue delivery of good renewable projects.

"We also welcome the fact that the Scottish Executive has broadened the new policy out and is looking at how bioenergy and microgeneration can play their part."

"However, a key success in Scotland has been the development of onshore wind. Scotland needs to see continued delivery here if the 2020 targets are to be met, and we will be looking closely at the detail of this document to see if it can deliver for renewables."

Mr Tomlinson also cautioned: "The devil is in the detail and we look forward to working closely with the Executive over the coming months to ensure that the revised planning policy is in the spirit of meeting the Scottish renewables target."

He concluded: "The wider importance of onshore wind should not be undervalued. It is the catalyst for a prosperous and sustainable renewables industry in Scotland, providing the necessary investor confidence and new infrastructure requirements that will allow the emerging technologies such as offshore wind, wave and tidal stream to realise their full potential."

The aspirations of the Scottish Executive chime with conclusions of the recent Scottish Renewables study Delivering the New Generation of Energy: Route Map to Scotland's Renewable Future. Key findings of this report were that:

  • In 2007, 19% of Scotland's electricity will come from renewables, exceeding the Scottish Executives 2010 target of 18% three years early
  • By 2010 33% of Scotland's electricity could come from renewable sources such as hydro, onshore wind, offshore wind, bioenergy, wave and tidal
  • By 2020, with suitable support, 54% of Scotland's electricity could come from these renewable sources

The targets set out within the draft of SPP6 clearly reflect Scottish public opinion, which is supportive of the development of new renewables projects.

Independent polling by GfK NOP, commissioned by Scottish Renewables in late 2005, reported that:

  • 73% agreed that wind farms are necessary so that we can produce renewable energy to help us meet current and future energy needs in Scotland.
  • 76% agreed that it is important that the national grid accommodates new renewable schemes to generate electricity so that old conventional plants like coal fired power stations can be replaced.

ENDS

Issued by:

Grant Thoms - Press & Parliamentary Officer
Mob: 07737 290 071

Chris Tomlinson – Director of Operations
Mob: 07815 141 008

Scottish Renewables staff and members are available for comment by contacting Grant Thoms

Notes to Editors:

  1. Scottish Renewables is Scotland's leading renewables organisation. It represents companies working in wind, wave, tidal, solar, hydro and biomass, and aims to create a renewables future for Scotland for the benefit of Scotland's environment and economy.
  2. The Scottish Renewables report "Delivering the New Generation of Energy: Route Map to Scotland's Renewable Future" is available at: www.scottishrenewables.com – follow the link on the homepage.
  3. SPP6 sets out policy for how planning authorities should consider proposals for all land based renewable projects. This includes hydro, onshore wind, bioenergy and microgeneration. After a three month consultation the Scottish Executive will consider final responses before publishing a final policy document that will then replace the current policy (National Planning Policy Guidance Six – NPPG6 – which has been in place since 1999)
  4. In 2003, the Scottish Executive set targets for the delivery of renewable electricity in Scotland. It stated a desire to see 18% of Scotland's electricity to come from renewables by 2010 and 40% by 2020. A Scottish Executive report, written by the Forum for Renewables Energy Development in Scotland explained the targets in 2005. The Future Generation Group Report can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/infrastructure/19185/17613.