Scottish Ministers have committed in their Programme for
Government 2 to raising the overall proportion of
electricity generated from renewable sources in Scotland to
18% by 2010. However, Ministers have signalled in recent
times their ambition is to go further. The Scottish
Executive announced on 23
rd August 2002 its intention to consult on a 40%
target by 2020. Key influences on their decision to consult
were Scotland's enormous potential renewable resource, and
the economic and environmental benefits of renewable
energy.
The consultation was circulated to industry, community
stakeholders and other interested parties. Responses were
received from individuals, businesses, non-governmental
organisations and non-departmental public bodies, unions
and political parties.
The majority of respondents supported the idea of
providing more energy from renewable sources, and Ministers
announced on 25
th March 2003 their intention to ratify the
target of 40% electricity generated in Scotland from
renewable sources by 2020, and put in place an action plan
containing measures to achieve it.
This action plan is laid out in the Executive's response
document,
Securing a
Renewable Future
Consultation document
Responses
Analysis