Renewable energy policy

Since devolution in 1999 the Scottish Government has been able to implement policies in many areas that were previously controlled by Westminster. In relation to energy policy, some issues such as electricity, gas, coal and nuclear are still reserved to the UK government but others, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy are devolved to Scotland.

Powers devolved to Scotland in relation to renewable energy have allowed Scottish Ministers to implement various initiatives to help take advantage of Scotland's wealth of renewable resources. You can find out about some of these below:

Renewable energy targets

It is estimated that Scotland has the potential renewable resource to generate 75% of the UK's existing electricity needs. To help exploit these natural resources and to help meet the UK's Kyoto commitments to reduce greenhouse gases, the Scottish Climate Change Programme commits Scotland to generating 18% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010. However, the Scottish Government has recently agreed that Scotland should aim to generate 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and have announced a series of measures to help reach this target.

Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS)

One of the main measures to increase Scotland's renewable energy output is the Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS) Order 2002. The ROS places a legal obligation on every licensed electricity supplier in Scotland to supply a percentage of electricity from renewable sources, and works in tandem with an equivalent obligation in England and Wales. It will increase gradually until 2010, when, if targets are met, 10% of the UK's electricity supply will come from renewable sources. The ROS will remain in place until at least 2027.

For full detail of the ROS Order 2002 click here

Securing a Renewable Future: Scotland's Renewable Energy

In August 2002 the Scottish Government launched a consultation to look at Scotland's renewable potential beyond 2010 and to seek views on the whether there was value in adopting a target of 40% for 2020. The consultation process elicited the majority view that the 18% target could be met, and that a new, longer-term target should be adopted as a means of stimulating further renewable energy development.

Click here to see the summary of consultation responses

In March 2003, in response to the consultation process above, the Scottish Government published Securing a Renewable Future: Scotland's Renewable Energy which outlines proposals for creating the right policy, economic and planning environment to help make a 40% target by 2020 possible. In particular it promises to:

• Focus on the development of marine energy and energy from biomass.
• Promote public awareness of renewable energy.
• Establish a Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland.

To see details of all the proposals outlined in the document click here