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1. Introduction
1.1. The Scottish Government, in cooperation with the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland ( FREDS), is consulting on a framework for the development and deployment of renewable energy in Scotland. This complements proposals in the parallel consultation document on a Renewables Energy Strategy issued in June by the UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform ( BERR). The Scottish Government intends that its proposed framework should contribute to the Scottish element of the UK National Action Plan for renewable energy if and when the proposed EU directive on renewable energy comes into force. 1 The Scottish Government and FREDS would welcome discussion of and comments on the proposals in this document by 1 December 2008 - subject to that feedback, we plan to prepare and publish a final Framework by early 2009.
1.2. Promoting the development and deployment of renewable energy is a key aspect of meeting the Scottish Government's purpose of promoting sustainable economic growth in Scotland. The Scottish Government's Economic Strategy identifies energy as a priority sector of the economy with renewable energy development contributing both to commitments to reduce carbon emissions and to promoting growth. Relevant indicators are included in the Government's performance framework and are being supported by local government too. These are: working towards an emissions reduction target of 80% by 2050; and a target that 50% of Scottish gross electricity consumption should come from renewable generation in Scotland by 2020, with 31% by 2011.
1.3. Renewable energy is not the only means by which to reduce carbon emissions from energy generation and use. For example, we will continue to need thermal generation and must reduce carbon emissions from coal and gas generation too. But these are not either/or choices - we are aiming both a reduction in carbon emissions and for the growth benefit to be gained from achieving a leading edge in new technologies. However, we will, in seeking to promote renewable energy, take into account the benefits and costs of different technologies both in relation to prospects for growth and for carbon reductions.
1.4. Scotland is on track to meet its target of meeting 50% of gross electricity consumption from renewable generation. The most recent electricity statistics (for 2006) indicate that renewable generation was equivalent to 16.3% of Scottish gross electricity consumption. The Scottish Government has recognised, however, that we need to make progress on renewable energy more generally, i.e. taking into account heat and transport as well as electricity. We believe that a challenging, necessary and achievable objective is 20% renewable energy by 2020. This aligns with the EU target but goes higher than the 15% likely to be required of the UK as a whole. It is also important to stress that this is in no sense a cap but rather an interim stage towards our more long term vision for renewable energy in Scotland, where we see Scotland playing a leading role in conjunction with European partners in developing and supplying renewable energy to a wider market.
1.5. The challenge of reducing carbon emissions will be made easier if we can reduce energy consumption. This document provides a summary of current actions for context but is not consulting on this issue. We propose to issue an Action Plan on Energy Efficiency and Micro-generation in the near future.
1.6. This document seeks views on the Scottish Government's proposed 20% target. It sets out what we are doing and what more we need to do to achieve this target. Meeting it will require action by a range of partners - industry, government and its agencies, researchers and more. We also need to work effectively in a UK and EU context. The latter will be assisted by the Scottish European Green Energy Centre which will start work later this year.
1.7. These are challenging targets; we want to work in meaningful partnership with all stakeholders to achieve our objectives. Your responses will help the Scottish Government, working with FREDS, to draw up a Framework which can be the agenda for our combined efforts.
1.8. Responses to this consultation paper should be sent by Monday 1 st December 2008 to the following address:
Robin Allison
Renewable Policy Team
Scottish Government
2 nd Floor, Meridian Court
5 Cadogan Street
Glasgow, G2 6ATTel: 0141 242 5819
Email: robin.allison@scotland,gsi.gov.uk
1.8.1. Handling your response
We need to know how you wish your response to be handled and, in particular, whether you are happy for your response to be made public. Please complete and return the Respondent Information Form as this will ensure that we treat your response appropriately. If you ask for your response not to be published we will regard it as confidential, and we will treat it accordingly.
1.8.2. All respondents should be aware that the Scottish Government are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and would therefore have to consider any request made to it under the Act for information relating to responses made to this consultation exercise.
1.8.3. Next steps in the process
Where respondents have given permission for their response to be made public (see Annex A), these will be made available to the public in the Scottish Government Library and on the Scottish Government consultation web pages. We will check all responses where agreement to publish has been given for any potentially defamatory material before logging them in the library or placing them on the website. You can make arrangements to view responses by contacting the SG Library on 0131 244 4565. Responses can be copied and sent to you, but a charge may be made for this service.
1.8.4. What happens next?
Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence to inform our Renewable Energy Policy.
1.8.5. Comments and complaints
If you have any comments about how this consultation exercise has been conducted, please direct them to us using the contact details at paragraph 1.8).
1.8.6. Consultation Questions
1. Achieving 20% of energy consumption for renewable sources - Do consultees agree that we should aim at 20% to meet the 2020 target and that progress should be made in all three sectors of electricity, heat and transport?
- If not - why not?
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2. Renewable electricity - Are the expectations for each technology reasonable?
- Have the main constraints to development been identified?
- Bearing in mind the need for costs to be taken into account, are there further actions which need to be taken by relevant parties in order to release renewables potential?
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3. Renewable Heat - Do consultees agree that we should work towards a target of 11% for renewable heat?
- What more could we or other parties so to encourage renewable heat deployment specifically with regard to: air quality, awareness raising, planning, and other areas?
- Do consultees agree that renewable heat should be promoted through a regulatory incentive mechanism? Do consultees consider that there are Scotland specific issues in the choice between a Renewable Heat Incentives and Renewable Heat Obligation?
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4. Distributed Energy and Community Based Schemes - How can distributed energy systems be promoted in Scotland?
- Do you agree with the Scottish Government's proposed measures for maximising community benefit from renewables, including the production of guidance and the development of an improved grants scheme?
- What role can social landlords play in developing local renewable energy schemes and what is the best way of supporting and enabling this?
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5. Bio-energy - Do consultees agree that there is significant potential for developing bioenergy through wood and recyclable waste
- Is there anything more that can be done to encourage next generation bioenergy, including marine biomass?
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6. Sustainable Transport - How can we best incentivise renewable and low carbon transport in a sustainable and cost effective way in Scotland?
- What potential is there for the introduction of vehicles powered through the electricity grid in Scotland? What impact would the widespread introduction of these kinds of vehicles have on:
- Energy demand and carbon emissions
- Providing distributed storage capacity
- Smoothing levels of electricity demand on the grid?
- What factors might affect the scale and timing of these impacts?
- Over what timescales do you think electric vehicles could contribute to our renewable energy and carbon reduction targets and what could the Scottish Government do to accelerate the introduction of these vehicles in Scotland in a cost effective way?
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6. Consents and Planning - How can developers be encouraged to work closely with planning authorities and local communities to improve the quality of applications?
- Can more we done to develop joint working between central Government, planning authorities and statutory and non statutory consultees in pursuit of the Government's ambitions on renewable energy?
- Given the growing number of issues connected with aviation and radar and wind farm development, especially in Southern Scotland, is there scope for cooperation between developers and aviation interests to promote a regional solution to complement the overall UK approach?
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7. Research, development and demonstration - How can we promote a strategic approach to research and development of renewable energy so that Scotland capitalises on its current strengths and becomes a European and world leader?
- How can we make sure that partnerships with European and world bodies act to promote Scottish and wider interests in this area?
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8. Supply chain and Skills - How can Scottish industry seize the opportunities this renewed commitment to renewable energy at Scottish, UK and European level brings to develop a large and prosperous renewable energy sector making a significant contribution to sustainable economic growth in Scotland and providing a wide range of skilled jobs?
- What can be done in the short term to promote more effective collaboration in local sourcing and procurement?
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