Scotland's Energy Targets

Nation’s green energy assets hailed
scotland has comparative advantage but effort and expenditure will be needed, says report
By Tim Pauling

Published: 10/12/2009

Scotland is well placed to meet and possibly exceed its renewable-energy targets but “significant effort and expenditure” will be needed, according to a new report.

A study commissioned by the Scottish Government says the country has a “comparative advantage” when it comes to green energy. Wind, hydro, wave and tidal power can all play a part, as can carbon capture and storage.

But the technologies do not currently provide the cheapest source of power, and incentives will be needed to encourage investors, it says.

Scotland is committed to providing 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and already generates about half the UK’s output from renewables. Earlier this year, the Scottish Parliament agreed to cut carbon emissions in 2050 by 80%, with a target of 42% by 2020.

The report by consultancy Wood Mackenzie says: “Scotland is well placed to meet and potentially exceed its key energy targets, particularly those relating to renewable energy supply in the period to 2020, although others (including longer-term objectives) remain less certain.” The Scottish contribution will be vital in meeting UK climate-energy targets and progress towards European goals, the consultants say.

Onshore wind and hydro are the most developed forms of renewable energy, but carbon capture and marine energy still require “considerable” research and development.

“A significant degree of uncertainty exists around technology costs, particularly in respect to less developed renewable sources,” according to the report. An expanded electricity grid, including connections to the Continent, will be needed. The report says: “Significant effort and expenditure would be required to fully realise this comparative advantage.”

Energy Minister Jim Mather said: “The study shows the impact that renewables can have in reducing emissions and shows that carbon capture could have a huge, positive impact for Scotland when it is fully operational.”

Scottish Renewables chief executive Niall Stuart said there was no disagreement about the potential of renewables. “The argument is around how we deliver the potential,” he said.

“Government now has to focus on the challenge of delivering faster and fairer grid connections, speeding up the planning system, supporting the development of new technology and training the thousands of people that the sector needs to recruit if it is to meet its ambitions to grow.”

The report did not look at nuclear power and SNP ministers have said they will reject any applications to build new plants in Scotland.

Tory energy spokesman Gavin Brown said: “It is the SNP’s blinkered dogma which is threatening to turn out the lights across Scotland by refusing to consider continued nuclear power as part of the energy mix.”



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