Renewable Heat Strategy in Pipeline

Scotland has the potential to be an international leader in renewable heat, according to Environment Minister Ross Finnie.

To mark Environment Week he underlined the Executive's commitment to prepare a strategy and ambitious targets to reuse the heat that Scotland already produces.

Mr Finnie said:

"Eighty per cent of energy used by the domestic sector goes towards heating. Renewable heat has great potential to reduce Scottish carbon emissions and Scotland is well placed to become a major player in its development.

"We have huge forestry and agricultural resources that could be used to generate heat. Newer technologies such as solar heating and geothermal energy also have a role to play.

"We have successfully encouraged a renewable electricity generation. We now want to look closely at incentives for renewable heat.

"That is why we are committed to developing a renewable heat strategy for Scotland as part of the forthcoming Climate Change Programme. The strategy will also include an ambitious target for its generation.

"We will work closely with the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) on its development of the strategy, and will also consult on our approach and consult publicly on our plans later in the year.

"Renewable technologies are playing an increasingly important role in helping to meet our future energy needs.

"I am already convinced that Scotland can become a powerhouse for renewable energy but so far the focus has been merely on the generation of electricity.

"The proportion of energy that goes towards heating is hugely significant, particularly in the domestic sector so this is an opportunity that must not be wasted."

The Executive is committed to the generation of 18 per cent of electricity by 2010, rising to 40 per cent by 2020. A study by Edinburgh University, published yesterday, confirmed that the Executive's target is achievable.

Renewable heat is simply heat (rather than electricity) produced using renewable sources. A more expansive list of technologies for doing so is as follows:

• Biomass
• Ground source heat pumps
• Solar water heating
• Geothermal aquifers
• Energy from waste
• Anaerobic digestion
• Landfill gas
• Fossil-fuel fired CHP