Renewables Action Plan

Executive Summary

Introduction

The imperative for action to address climate change (demonstrated by Scotland's world leading carbon reduction target of 42%) is driving development across a host of policy interests.

Scotland is currently committed to achieve a headline target of 20% of total Scottish energy use coming from renewables sources by 2020. Specific targets include 50% of electricity demand, a 10% target for renewable transport and 11% target of heat demand. Scotland's Renewables Action Plan sets out a framework for action in the specific area of renewable energy. Other strands which are being led by the Scottish Government are as follows:

Energy Efficiency Action Plan due to publish by December 2009
Low Carbon Vehicles - consultation in Summer 2009
Carbon Capture and Storage - development of sectoral routemap by end of 2009
In addition, Renewable Heat, while included in the RAP, will be covered in more detail in the forthcoming Renewable Heat Action Plan which will be published in Summer 2009

Purpose of the RAP

identify what needs to happen and by when to achieve objectives;
focus on the actions needed over the immediate 24 month period;
establish in the public domain what will effectively become a live document - a portal for the development of the sector, subject to ongoing input and revision as new opportunities arise, as technology moves forward, and as new requirements become apparent.

Key objectives:

to establish Scotland as a UK and EU leader in the field;
to ensure maximum returns for our domestic economy,
to meet our targets for energy from renewables, and for emissions reductions, to 2020 and beyond;

The Role of Government

Leadership, coordination and communication

The Scottish Government is focused on driving progress and identifying and overcoming obstacles to energy generation, business success, jobs growth, and carbon reductions. We will coordinate and facilitate the highest degree of partnership working between the public and private sectors and reinforce the role of the Energy Advisory Board, and its Renewable Energy sub-group ( FREDS), as the "centre of gravity" for renewables in Scotland. We will also continue to engage closely with UK Government and the EU to ensure Scotland's needs and contribution are reflected in their policies.

Short Term Key Actions - Phase 1

Area	Milestone/Event/Tasks	Task length
Infrastructure	National Renewables Infrastructure Project. Develop a clear spatial framework for port and port-side land and landward infrastructure that can support the manufacturing, construction, and operation and maintenance of offshore wind devices and commercial wave and tidal machines. Identify infrastructure dependencies	June -Oct 2009
	Decision on Beauly-Denny transmission line	End 2009
	Continue to make the case for a fairer transmission charging regime to Ofgem and National Grid	Ongoing
Supply Chain	Take forward a study on the renewable energy supply chain in Scotland which will consider in detail the potential economic value and employment potential from clean energy developments over the next decade	End 2009
	SEn/ HIE study of Scottish renewables supply chain companies	Summer 2009
	Marine Energy Group supply chain study for wave and tidal sectors	Summer 2009
	Crown Estate "marketplace" events for off-shore wind supply chain	Late 2009/early 2010
RDD & D	To profile / map Scottish funding for energy RDD&D across the range of relevant organisations and create a database / portal / interface where this information can be made available to external bodies	Late 2009
RDD & D	To undertake a critical analysis / benchmarking of spend against industry need, and produce recommendations for Ministers regarding future funding and structures	Late 2009
Energy Consents and Planning	Consider efficacy of Section 36 framework and, with the UK Government, opportunities for reform	ongoing
	Facilitate cross-working and understanding among decision makers through a series of workshops with Local Authorities and key stakeholders, helping to assist the realization of their renewables ambitions and strategically address barriers to achievement	End 2009 to deployment
	Through the creation of a Scottish Renewable Energy Ornithological Steering Group to broker the sharing of environmental information to better inform planning and consenting regimes
	Through MESPG, with feed-in from MSSF, produce a non-statutory Interim Marine Spatial Plan for the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters	Early 2010
	Through MESPG, with feed-in from MSSF, take forward an SEA for Offshore Wind Energy development in Scottish Territorial Waters	Early 2010
	Through MESPG, recommend simplified guidance for consents and licensing for marine renewables.	2009/10
Skills	Develop apprenticeship frameworks - early opportunities in microrenewables and onshore wind	2009/10
	Develop up-skilling programmes	Late 2009
	Develop a programme to support skills development and continue to develop the Renewable Energy Skills Group's workplan	Autumn 2009
Communities	Deliver and review CARES and consider any changes to retain best value for money and maximise delivery	End 2011
Research and Analysis	Production of a Renewable Energy Baseline Study to provide accurate estimates of employment and economic value of the renewable energy sector in Scotland	Summer 2009
Research and Analysis	Research to provide an updated assessment of Scotland's renewable resource across each sector	End 2009
Heat/Bioenergy	Ensure that Scottish interests are taken into account in the design of the RHI.	End 2009
Heat/Bioenergy	Continue to provide funding through various grant programmes, including CARES, SBHS and SRDP to support renewable heat installing including district heating.	End March 2011
Hydro	Through FREDS Hydro Group, agree on best level for S36 threshold and implementation of change if required.	June 2010
	Abolition of Fisheries Committee through UK Government	In Hand
	Establish a new industry group on Micro-hydro to galvanise action and consider barriers and report to FREDS	2009-2010
Hydrogen	Early commercial demonstrators on grid balancing and transport corridor	2012
Hydrogen	SHFCA to galvanise members to buy in to clear vision for sector. Also FREDS Group on Green Hydrogen and Fuel cells to be established to oversee progress	End 2009
Onshore Wind	Map and identify solutions to aviation/radar issues, particularly in the South and West of Scotland	End 2009
	Consider need to conduct an onshore wind supply chain study	January 2010
	Continue to improve s36 Consents process and reform of planning system to aid delivery of appropriate projects	Ongoing
Offshore Wind	Champion and co-ordinate the delivery of appropriate Scottish regions as clusters for integrated innovation, manufacturing, port and grid infrastructure	Autumn 2009 onwards
	Deliver of the SEA for Offshore Wind in Scottish Territorial Waters	Early 2010
	Establish SG group to design a marine consenting regime with appropriate structure and resources for handling of numerous offshore wind applications.	2009-2010
	Direct engagement in DECC's consultation on proposal in Budget to raise ROC banding for offshore wind.	Summer 2010
Marine Energy	MEG to publish a Marine Energy Road Map and work towards delivering the key recommendations.	Summer 2009
	Findings of commissioned supply chain study to be used to strategically plan the types (and locations) of infrastructure and supply chain needs necessary to manufacture, deploy and service devices.	Summer-Autumn 2009
	To continue promoting the Saltire Prize at an international scale, encouraging new marine developers and innovators to deploy in Scottish waters.	Ongoing
Communication and progress reporting	RAP to be updated every 6 months via a new online resource for Renewables in Scotland	End 2009

Page updated: Monday, July 06, 2009

Scottish Government