Paul Wheelhouse to release draft energy strategy

Wind turbine - credit: RES

The Scottish Government will today publish its draft energy strategy, setting out its plans for boosting renewable and low-carbon energy in Scotland.

The strategy will provide details on how the Government will deliver the third draft climate change plan, released last week, which targets a 66 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2032.

The strategy, published after a statement by energy minister Paul Wheelhouse in the chamber, will react to changes in UK Government policy, the devolution of new powers to the Scottish Parliament and emerging trends in energy systems worldwide.

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WWF Scotland called on the Government to include targets to produce 50 per cent of energy from renewables by 2030, an expansion of action to reduce the carbon impact of Scotland’s heating needs, and further action to improve home energy efficiency.

Heat accounts for 54 per cent of Scotland’s energy use, with less than three per cent coming from renewable sources. Transports accounts for 25 per cent of energy use, with four per cent generated by renewables, and electricity, making up 21 per cent of energy use, with 50 per cent coming from renewables.

The Government will hold a public consultation on the draft, with the results used to inform the final Energy Strategy, published in the latter half of 2017.

WWF Scotland’s Senior Climate and Energy Policy Officer, Gina Hanrahan, said: “Research shows clearly that a target of generating 50 per cent of all of Scotland’s energy from renewables by 2030 is necessary and achievable. Ministers should adopt this target in its draft energy strategy, sending out a clear message to industry and putting us on course to secure the new jobs, warmer homes, and cleaner air that generating half of all our energy needs from renewables would bring.

“We’re already seeing the economic and social benefits of shifting our electricity system to clean, climate-friendly, renewables generation. Scotland’s 2020 renewable electricity target has helped create 21,000 low-carbon jobs, and a target of generating half of all of our energy from renewables by 2030 would help drive the same kind of progress in the heat and transport sectors.”

Renewable sources delivered the equivalent of 59.4 per cent of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption in 2015 – up from 49.9 per cent in 2014.