Renewable heat up by a third in Scotland

The amount of heat generated using renewable sources in Scotland rose by 36 per cent in 2014, new figures show.

The data, published by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Scottish government, suggests more than 1GW of renewable heat capacity was in operation in Scotland in 2014, accounting for around 3.8 per cent of the total non-electrical heat demand.

Energy minister Fergus Ewing said he was “pleased” with the news, but warned that continuing uncertainty from the UK government about the renewable heat incentive (RHI) after March next year could shake investor confidence.

“We will continue to press for commitment to the long term sustainability of the RHI beyond next year to provide confidence for funders and stimulate investment in renewable heat technologies,” he said.

In June this year, the Scottish government published its Heat Policy Statement which aims to largely decarbonise the heat system by 2050.

In April, Scottish Renewables warned that Scotland was in danger of missing its renewable heat target of sourcing 11 per cent of heat demand from renewables by 2020 unless a “major change of mindset” was adopted.

On today’s figures, Scottish Renewables senior policy manager Joss Blamire said Scotland is “moving in the right direction, albeit slowly”.

“What the industry needs now, particularly if we are to hit our target… is a strong commitment from the Scottish and UK governments to help increase the pace of development,” he said.

“With that in mind, the UK government’s continued silence on commitment to the Renewable Heat Incentive, the scheme which supports renewable heat development, beyond 2016 is worrying. Reduction or removal of that scheme would see our chances of hitting that 2020 target fall to almost zero.”