Huge increase in renewable heat output for Scotland
ew figures show 2015 saw the
N biggest rise in renewable heat output in Scotland since records began in 2008 .
The Scottish Government aims for 11 % of non-electrical heat demand to come from renewable sources by 2020 .
The figures , published by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Scottish Government , show renewable heat output increased by 1,100GWh over the course of 2015 , meaning Scotland generated 5.3-5.6 % of its non-electrical heat demand from renewable sources – up from 3.8 % in 2014 .
Stephanie Clark , Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables , said : “ This shows that progress is being made towards our 2020 target – a vital goal when heat makes up more than half of the energy we use in Scotland .
“ If we are to continue this positive progress it ’ s important that the UK Government clarify the future of the RHI , through which technologies like heat pumps are supported , and that public awareness of renewable heat solutions increases .”
The pivotal role of heat networks in decarbonising UK homes
eat networks are good value and
H crucial to decarbonising domestic heating in the UK , according to a new report by influential think tank Policy Exchange , ‘ Too hot to handle ? How to decarbonise the way we heat our homes ’.
The report says emissions from domestic heating have fallen by 20 % since 1990 , compared to 50 % in the power sector , and suggests a radical overhaul of Government heat strategy .
One proposal is to increase the roll-out of heat networks , which currently supply around 1 % of households but , Policy Exchange says , could serve 10-20 % or more by 2050 .
The report calls for Ofgem to develop a bespoke regulatory framework for heat networks and for the Government to do more to increase their financial attractiveness and de-risk investment – echoing the call by the Association for Decentralised Energy ( ADE ) for a new regulatory investment framework .
Ian Allan , Head of Research and Development for community heating specialist Switch2 Energy , said : “ This is a very interesting report that helps to bring heat out of the energy policy shadows and highlights the huge contribution that heat networks can
Most small firms want renewable energy make to reducing the UK ’ s carbon footprint in the most affordable way possible .
“ Although the Heat Trust is making an excellent contribution to raising industry standards , it is a voluntary scheme , and Policy Exchange is right to call for greater regulation . However , as the report states , this must be proportionate to scale and differentiate between large heat networks , such as district heating , and smaller building-level heat networks , such as community heating .
“ Heavy ‘ Ofgem ’ legislation may be too rigid for small community heating schemes and could deter their growth , at least in the short term . Policy must also recognise the fact that many heat network operators don ’ t have endto-end responsibility for schemes , preferring to deliver heat to the bulk meters and then hand over to landlords or local community .
“ The report recommends moving focus away from specific technologies , like electric heat pumps , which current Government heat strategy favour . In the case of heat networks , it ’ s important to remove barriers and permit developers to choose their own heat source , whether this be gas boilers for small community heating schemes , CHP , biomass , or others .” significant majority of small and
A medium-sized businesses ( SMEs ) want their energy supplier to be more committed to renewables , according to a new report looking at how the SME sector regards energy supply .
The report , commissioned by Haven Power , revealed that while 72 % say they would like energy suppliers to be more committed to renewables , only 11 % would rate their current energy supplier as excellent when it comes to renewable energy support and options .
Much of the energy supply sector is failing to meet SMEs ’ demand for more renewables and this comes against a general backdrop of high dissatisfaction with suppliers among SMEs :
• As many as 73 % of SMEs label value for money as a main priority ( up to 94 % for SMEs with 5-25 employees ), and yet just 23 % believe they are receiving an excellent deal .
• 71 % of SMEs agree that it should be simpler to switch supplier . One in five who tried to switch didn ’ t end up with a new supplier .
• The third factor likely to stimulate a switch ( after price and service ) is the offer of renewable electricity . In fact , 22 % told researchers they would stay late at work to switch suppliers if they could purchase a completely clean energy product . For the largest SMEs ( 101-250 employees ), this rises to 28 %.
• In addition , 26 % cite that support in being more energy efficient is something that they look for in an energy supplier .
Jonathan Kini , Chief Executive of Haven Power , said : “ That so many SMEs are dissatisfied with their existing energy supplier is perhaps unsurprising , but the sheer scale of the discontent revealed in this report remains shocking . SMEs want more from their supplier and a commitment to renewable energy is one of the demands they are pushing for . This suggests there is some fundamental change happening , and we in the energy sector need to respond to it by not only helping SMEs reduce their energy usage but also being able to supply 100 % renewable energy .
“ The fact that only 21 % of respondents believe their supplier is completely committed to renewable energy with almost a third saying their supplier is either not very committed or they are not sure they have a renewable option shows a huge gap in the market .”
The report comes as Haven Power prepares to launch a new initiative around its Ipswich headquarters to help SMEs switch to more renewable energy and become more sustainable . Suffolk has taken the lead in driving renewables usage following the formation of the Creating the Greenest County Partnership in 2007 . Many businesses in the area have taken advantage of the 100 % renewable electricity product from Haven Power , but it is still a small proportion of their total customer base .
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