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Section 2: Recommendations
The Group recognises that the renewable heat take-up in Scotland is in its infancy and that there is a long way to go before reaching the levels experienced in countries like Denmark and Austria. Consumers expect heat to be cheap, convenient and clean. We have not reached this stage in terms of all renewable heat technologies and must address this if renewable heat is to take off.
The small scale and fragmented nature of renewable heat markets in Scotland, and the obstacles to development resulting from the economies of scale and infrastructure enjoyed by the incumbent fossil technologies (particularly gas) mean that there is a very strong case for intervention and support to enable fair competition for renewable heat. However there are particular opportunities in Scotland because of the extent of areas off the gas grid, and the existence of clusters of potential heat demand and existing waste heat or potential renewable heat sources. As a result the group very much welcomes the opportunity to work with the Scottish Government to develop a vibrant renewable heat sector in Scotland. The recommendations outlined below cover a wide range of policy tools and mechanisms which the Group believe are key to realising the vision and goals set out earlier.
DEVOLVED RESPONSIBILITY AND RENEWABLE HEAT
That the Scottish Government:
- clarifies that it has devolved responsibility for the promotion of renewable heat in Scotland.
TECHNOLOGIES
That Scottish Renewables:
- produces a consumer information pack outlining what the key renewable heat technologies are as well as explaining the important factors to bear in mind when considering which may be appropriate for specific applications.
HEAT MAP
That the Scottish Government:
- develops a consistent approach to heat mapping and disseminates this to all local authorities in Scotland.
TARGETS
That the Scottish Government:
- urgently conducts further analysis of the potential heat markets in Scotland and the respective barriers and costs in order to inform the identification of an appropriate target for renewable heat, taking into consideration the impact of energy efficiency and heat loss reduction on the overall market size.
POLICY AND REGULATION
Wider Heat Strategy
That the Scottish Government:
- develops a wider heat strategy for Scotland and takes into account, in the strategy, the measures needed to develop the renewable heat sector.
- as part of a wider heat strategy, supports and promotes district heating, taking into account the technology support and regulatory reform needed.
Fuel Poverty
That the Scottish Government:
- supports the roll out of renewable technologies within its Central Heating Programme, subject to the success of the current Renewable Heat Pilot.
Public Procurement
That the Scottish Government:
- takes a lead in its own public procurement practices in adopting renewable heat within its own estate, and requires local authorities and other public bodies to do the same.
Heat from Waste Biomass
That the Scottish Government:
- charges SEPA to prohibit the dumping of waste biomass from industrial and commercial processes to landfill in order to promote its use for energy production.
- puts in place a policy to prevent the combustion of any form of waste without the recovery of heat, via CHP and/or district heating, and ensures that the regulatory and planning powers necessary to enforce this are adequate.
- undertakes to establish a fuel standard(s) for materials from waste derived sources to enable appropriate materials to be treated as non waste fuel.
Low Carbon Buildings
That the Scottish Government:
- includes renewable heat as part of the process of progressively tightening and fully enforcing building regulations to accelerate progress to deliver zero-carbon new building stock.
- reviews, as a matter of urgency, all options for improving the existing building stock in order to maximise uptake of renewable heat and minimise heat demand.
- promotes the value of CPD for all stakeholders in the property market to raise awareness.
Air Quality
That the Scottish Government:
- recognises the benefit of renewable heat technologies to improving air quality, particularly where they replace oil and coal heating.
- ensures, as part of a supportive planning and regulatory framework that, air quality management does not disproportionately penalise biomass or other renewable technologies.
LOCAL PLANNING
That the Scottish Government:
- supports the implementation of measures within SPP6 on the installation of microrenewables.
- legislates to require local authorities and housing associations to promote and support district heating using renewable technologies.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Renewables Obligation (Scotland)
That the Scottish Government:
- amends the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) to allow ROC-banding in line with the proposals being considered under the UK Energy Bill; in particular to award double ROCs to biomass CHP schemes, and for advanced conversion technologies for waste, but only where this is based on CHP and/or district heating.
Financial Mechanisms
That the Scottish Government:
- urgently reviews ongoing work by the UK Government on financial mechanisms, and carries out additional analysis to determine the most appropriate mechanism(s) for developing a Scottish heat market, taking into consideration scale, technology, capital and fuel costs, innovative financial models, and market price to ensure no undue burden is placed on the end user.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Continuing Professional Development ( CPD)
That the Scottish Government:
- runs CPD workshops and/or seminars involving the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland ( RIAS) and the Institution of Civil Engineers ( ICE), to ensure that all players are in tune with sustainable development principles, give proper consideration to renewable heat, and fully implement planning and building standards.
Training
That the Scottish Government:
- instructs the Scottish Funding Council, Sector Skills Council and Skills Agency to develop a co-ordinated training programme incorporating: microgeneration, energy efficiency, and renewable heat.
Best Practice
That the Scottish Government:
- investigates the promotion of renewable heat within other countries, to consider how they have achieved a well-developed renewable heat market, and ensure benchmarking against best practice abroad, with a view to adoption of best practice, subject to statutory competence.
General Awareness Raising
That the Scottish Government and the sector as a whole:
- promotes the benefits of renewable heat in a coordinated and easily accessible fashion, including through web promotion by appropriate agencies and other general awareness raising activities.
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