This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland on road to meeting renewables targets
20/06/2005
Scotland is well placed to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets, a report published by the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) revealed today.
The report, by the Forum's sub-group on Future Generation, looks at the role and challenges renewable energy will face up to 2020.
It confirms that there are no technical obstacles involved in connecting the required new generation to the electricity network, although there will be upgrades and new investment required.
FREDS chairman and Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace said:
"Today's report sets out the progress which still needs to be made if we are to meet our renewables targets, and is the culmination of a great deal of work and effort on the part of FREDS.
"The report has concluded that, based on projections of future electricity demand, renewables generation totalling 6,000 MegaWatts of capacity will be needed to reach our target of generating 40 per cent of Scotland's electricity by 2020 - this means over 3,000 additional MegaWatts in addition to the capacity already consented or operational.
"I am absolutely clear that this figure should not be thought of as a cap. Scotland has enormous potential, and the range of technologies which we are determined to support could easily take us beyond this figure.
"We remain fully committed to promoting diverse technological developments. FREDS has warned that setting targets or reserving capacity for individual technologies would be detrimental to the development of the sector as a whole.
"There is a prize to be won in economic and employment terms from these potential developments - I will look to FREDS to take the lead in investigating and quantifying these benefits. I am sure this will complement the Green Jobs Strategy which I launched last week.
"At the same time, we accept the group's recommendation that every effort should be made towards the continued implementation of the FREDS marine, biomass and hydrogen sub-groups."
Sandy Cumming, chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and chairman of the Future Generation sub-group said:
"The continuing support of Scottish Executive and UK government for the full range of renewable generation technologies is vital to ensure investor confidence in this emerging market. This, in turn, is the key to ensuring the ongoing development of the electricity network to accommodate additional capacity easily and economically.
"Scotland is well placed to meet and even exceed its ambitious renewable energy targets. Utilising what are some of the best wind, wave and tidal resources in Europe and our abundant wood fuel supplies will help counter the effects of global warming. It will also create a viable new industry bringing real and sustainable benefit to some of Scotland's most remote areas and communities. Rapid, but responsible, progress towards these two estimable goals is now crucial."
Lewis Dale from National Grid Company and a member of the group that produced the report said:
"A key topic addressed in the report concerns the impact of renewables and particularly wind generation on the future security of supplies for Scotland and on the operation of the wider Great Britain electricity market. We are satisfied that, provided the associated network reinforcements are completed, the variability of output from the wind resources that could be developed in Scotland can be managed within the GB electricity system."
Maf Smith, Chief Executive of the Scottish Renewables Forum, and a member of the group that produced the report said:
"This report shows that it is vital that we make sure emerging technologies are fast-tracked so that they too can play their part in meeting Scotland's renewables targets. However, FREDS has agreed that this cannot be done through holding back onshore wind, but quickening the pace that biomass, wave and tidal are brought to market and able to compete."
Charles Berry, ScottishPower's Executive Director UK said:
"I welcome today's report. Scotland has the best renewable energy sources in Europe, and the report shows the potential to meet or exceed our targets. By doing so, and by developing a range of new technologies, I believe we can demonstrate Scotland to be world class in combating climate change".
Jim Wallace is Chairman of FREDS - the forum brings together representatives from the Scottish Executive, local authorities, the Enterprise Networks, the new renewables industry, the established energy industry, academia and other stakeholders.