The Scottish Government has published its Heat Policy Statement (HPS), setting out its approach to working towards decarbonising the heat system, along with a framework for investment in a low carbon heat sector.
The Heat Policy Statement is another component of the Scottish Government’s comprehensive approach to energy in Scotland, alongside placing energy efficiency at the heart of the approach to de-carbonise the whole energy system.
The Scottish Government will work together with energy experts, businesses and communities to develop a more holistic approach to these issues over the next year. Key points include:
- Designating energy efficiency as a National Infrastructure Priority. The cornerstone of this will be Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) which will provide an offer of support to all buildings in Scotland – domestic and non-domestic – to improve their energy efficiency rating.
- The Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP), launched in March 2015, with £76 million over the first three years, to provide tailored project development support for established and start-up infrastructure projects, including heat, across the private, public and community sectors.
- A support programme for local authorities to develop a strategic approach to district heating and supporting use of the Scotland Heat Map to do so.
- Retaining the level of ambition to achieve 1.5 TWh of Scotland’s heat demand to be delivered by district or communal heating and to have 40,000 homes connected by 2020.
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “This concise Heat Policy Statement brings sets out Scottish Government’s framework for achieving a resilient heat system which transitions to affordable low carbon heat and seizes the economic opportunities that this transformation offers.
“Heat is estimated to account for over half of Scotland’s total energy use and responsible for nearly half of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, so the imperative to take action is very clear.
“We have already made significant progress and will continue to work together with energy experts, businesses and communities to move towards a largely decarbonised heat system by 2050.”
More information: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/06/6679
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