|24 January 2017|
Scotland
Scotland has set a target of generation 50% of its heat, transport and electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030.
The target was revealed as part of a key consultation on Scotland’s first energy strategy. The draft Scottish Energy Strategy, published today, sets out a vision for 2050 for Scotland to have a modern, integrated energy system that delivers reliable, low carbon energy at affordable prices to consumers in all parts of Scotland.
This vision will be supported next month when we the Scottish Government will announce details of up to £50 million in funding to be awarded to 13 projects, at sites across Scotland, which will demonstrate low carbon or renewable electricity, heating or storage solutions.
Dr Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “This Energy Strategy is very welcome, with a strong ambition of transforming electricity, heating and transport. With 50% of all energy to come from renewables by 2030 and 100% of our electricity well before then this plan sets us firmly on course to becoming one of the leading low-carbon nations in the world.
“Scotland is blessed with abundant clean energy resources and we need to harness the huge energies in the wind, waves and sun. We are already doing very well on electricity but we must build on this and also transform energy use in transport and heating, getting away from climate-wrecking fossil fuels as soon as we can.”
Scotland’s Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, added: “The Scottish Government is determined to support a stable, managed transition to a low carbon economy in Scotland, recognising the very real need to decarbonise our heat supplies and transport system.”
