Scotland still needs a huge “acceleration” of investment in and adoption of renewable energy to help it to hit climate change targets by 2030, according to environmentalists.
Sam Gardner, head of policy at WWF Scotland, told delegates at the Scottish Renewables annual conference in Edinburgh yesterday that about 45 per cent of energy needs would have to come from renewable sources by 2030.
At present it is 13 per cent and Mr Gardner said that a “business as usual” approach to investment and projects would enable that to reach only about 30 per cent by 2030.
He said: “Huge acceleration is needed to hit the targets. It needs direction, vision, leadership and support.” He added that the Holyrood elections provided an opportunity for political parties to lay out a clearer path for Scotland to meet its carbon reduction and renewable generation targets.
Mr Gardner said that WWF Scotland was eager to find ways to reduce the risk and cost of district heating schemes, which can distribute heat to homes from a central source and could help to minimise the need for imported electricity.
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This year Scottish Renewables called for a target to produce at least 50 per cent of all energy use in Scotland from renewable sources by 2030.
Barbara Vest, the director of generation at Energy UK, said that a mix of technologies would be needed to meet future demands. However, she said that demand for electricity was not likely to rise as sharply as expected because of the proliferation of locally generating technologies, such as wind turbines and solar panels. “That hockey stick [upturn] will not happen in the short term,” she said.
Ms Vest added that investment in infrastructure for electric vehicles was needed if they were to grow in popularity.
Klair White, of EY, said that the UK was still an attractive market for renewable energy investment, but policy changes, including the withdrawal of subsidies, would soon start to have an impact. She advocated “a level playing field” for all types of technology.
Michael Rutter, director of clean electricity at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, said that he believed politicians were aware of the need to continue providing support to the renewable energy industry.