Scotland launches Renewable Heat Action Plan
Elaine Brass
10th November 2009
The Scottish Government has launched a national plan to promote renewable heating, which it believes will help Scotland meet its renewable targets.
Heating accounts for half of Scotland's energy use and it has set itself a target to reach 11 per cent of heat from renewable sources by 2020. The current rate, though, is just 1.4 per cent. The Renewable Heat Action Plan aims to meet the 11 per cent target by focusing on the industrial, commercial and public sectors, in the short to medium term, but also on the domestic sector – particularly on retrofitting micro-renewables to existing properties and the development of district heating.
Currently, over 90 per cent of Scotland’s renewable heat is generated from wood biomass, with energy from waste developing as a rapidly growing sector.
To reach the Scottish target 11 per cent target of heat from renewable sources, the action plan aims to focus on developing the skills required for such a roll-out, the provision of consumer information, and building a Scottish supply chain. It calls for action to be taken over the next two years to accelerate the progress. The UK-wide introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive, in April 2011 – which will give financial support to renewable heat generators at any scale – will drive rapid growth in the sector, the Scottish Government believes.
Commenting on the action plan, Energy Minister Jim Mather said: "Alongside better energy efficiency, it is important that we build a diverse renewable heat market across Scotland to significantly reduce our emissions. Focusing on biomass, on an industrial and commercial scale, will make the biggest impact on emissions reductions in the medium term.
"In urban areas there are tremendous opportunities for district heating schemes, while in rural areas off the gas grid, individual solutions such as biomass or heat pumps will be particularly important. The Biomass Heat Scheme is already helping business reduce emissions and potentially save money, while supporting jobs in forestry and the supply chains. There are huge areas for further growth, particularly in terms of the manufacture, installation and maintenance of renewable heating systems.”
The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) Scotland delivered the background statistics for the Renewable Heat Action Plan, identifying Scotland's renewable heat potential. Its vice chair Jan Bebbington said: "There are significant challenges for Scotland in moving to low carbon heat. Many of the changes will come about through technical innovation, or regulatory changes that sit outside of devolved powers [...] SDC Scotland's research showed that an 11 per cent target is achievable with no fundamental changes to the way heat is currently used, or the way renewable fuels, in particular wood and waste streams, are produced and delivered. However, to deliver 80 per cent greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2050 will require a heat system where renewable heat is the dominant type.”