Renewable energy in Scotland

Scottish Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 19 Mar 2021 Closed: 8 Feb 2022 Parliament page
We have launched an inquiry into renewable energy in Scotland just months before the world descends on Glasgow for November’s COP26 UN Climate Conference. This inquiry is likely to examine: how ‘net-zero’ targets can be met by development of renewable energy in Scotland; the technologies that would best serve Scotland … Read more
6 Recommendations
5 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
4 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 11 events
10 Jan
2022
Correspondence
1 Dec
2021
Report published
17 Sep
2021
Report published
13 Sep
2021
Formal meeting (private meeting) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
20 Jul
2021
Correspondence
12 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
5 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
28 Jun
2021
Oral evidence
27 May
2021
Oral evidence
15 Apr
2021
Correspondence
15 Apr
2021
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
12 Jul 2021
View on parliament.uk
John Waldron · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
5 Jul 2021
View on parliament.uk
Bob MacGregor · Unite the Union Dave Moxham · Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)
28 Jun 2021
View on parliament.uk
Christopher Milne · Orbital Marine Power Dr Gareth Davies · Aquatera Neil Kermode · European Marine Energy Centre Ltd (EMEC) Steven Bruce · Orkney Islands Council
27 May 2021
View on parliament.uk
Neil Douglas · BVG Associates Professor Karen Turner · University of Strathclyde Professor Keith Bell · UK Energy Research Centre
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Renewable energy in Scotland HC 51 17 Sep 2021 11 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
11 results
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
The potential scale of renewable energy in Scotland is huge.
The potential scale of renewable energy in Scotland is huge. The abundance of natural resources can benefit individuals, organisations, and businesses across the UK. We welcome the targets set by the UK Government for net zero and look forward to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's positive outlook, explaining that its Net Zero Strategy, published in October 2021, outlines measures to achieve climate goals and create green jobs across the UK, including Scotland, through existing mechanisms like the Contracts for Difference scheme.
Scotland Office
View details
2 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
The grid is critical for renewable energy to reach consumers.
The grid is critical for renewable energy to reach consumers. Urgent investment is needed in the grid to ensure that net zero targets are met. The grid needs to be reinforced and expanded to ensure that renewable energy generated in … Read more
Government Response
The government states that network regulation is a matter for Ofgem and highlights Ofgem's existing RIIO-2 price control framework, which already focuses on enabling strategic investment in the grid to support net zero ambitions.
Scotland Office
View details
3 Conclusion Deferred
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
The evidence we have heard has highlighted issues around the volatility of transmission charges.
The evidence we have heard has highlighted issues around the volatility of transmission charges. The short-term volatility of transmission charges is a barrier to the development of renewable energy as it affects confidence in investment and the future cost of … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of transmission charging arrangements but defers to Ofgem's ongoing call for evidence on reforms, stating that next steps will be announced later.
Scotland Office
View details
4 Conclusion Deferred
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
Locational transmission charges weigh more heavily on developers in Scotland when projects in other areas...
Locational transmission charges weigh more heavily on developers in Scotland when projects in other areas of the UK, like Wales, are paid to connect to the grid. The financial burden of transmission charges and grid investment needs to be justly … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's view on transmission charges but defers to Ofgem's ongoing call for evidence on reforms, with next steps expected to be announced later this quarter.
Scotland Office
View details
5 Recommendation Deferred
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
We recommend that the UK Government specifies that, as part of its internal review, Ofgem...
We recommend that the UK Government specifies that, as part of its internal review, Ofgem must consider the financial burden of transmission charges in Scotland. Ofgem should consider the long-term impacts on net zero targets and aim for a way … Read more
Government Response
The government defers to Ofgem's ongoing call for evidence on transmission charging reforms, stating that Ofgem will announce next steps later this quarter, without committing to the specific review or publication timeline requested.
Scotland Office
View details
6 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
Ofgem is considering net zero targets in their planning.
Ofgem is considering net zero targets in their planning. However, we are convinced by significant evidence to suggest that more emphasis should be put on net zero and this should be made explicit and formalised within Ofgem’s remit. We recommend … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects amending Ofgem’s statutory duties, stating that Ofgem's current duty already covers emissions reduction, and it plans to introduce a Strategy and Policy Statement (SPS) to provide legally binding strategic guidance on net-zero responsibilities.
Scotland Office
View details
7 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
Contracts for Difference (CfD) has been useful in driving down the cost of offshore wind...
Contracts for Difference (CfD) has been useful in driving down the cost of offshore wind and provides certainty to developers of renewable technology, but more could be done to improve the CfD system. By focusing on net zero goals the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for CfD scheme design to evolve for maximum benefit and states that views from a recent call for evidence are being factored into future policy design, but doesn't explicitly commit to prioritising net zero targets and best value in the *next* CfD round.
Scotland Office
View details
8 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
The UK is at the forefront of tidal renewable energy technology, but the UK Government...
The UK is at the forefront of tidal renewable energy technology, but the UK Government must invest more in this sector to ensure that the UK retains its world leading position. A laissez-faire approach risks the UK being left behind … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges tidal stream's potential but states it must reduce costs to compete. It notes tidal stream is CfD eligible and is currently evaluating material from a call for evidence on marine energy, without committing to guaranteed financial support.
Scotland Office
View details
9 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
The Scottish Government suggested in analysis that 130,000 green jobs could have been created by...
The Scottish Government suggested in analysis that 130,000 green jobs could have been created by 2020, we are disappointed that the evidence we received from Unite the Union stated that only 6% of this was reached. Funding for a green … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of green jobs and outlines its existing Net Zero Strategy and Contracts for Difference scheme, which aim to create jobs and support renewable energy across the UK, including Scotland.
Scotland Office
View details
10 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
We recommend that the Scottish Government progress their Green Jobs Fund more rapidly and the...
We recommend that the Scottish Government progress their Green Jobs Fund more rapidly and the UK Government should use part of the £12 billion outlined in the Ten Point Plan to invest in renewable energy in Scotland. This investment should … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges its commitment to green investment and job creation through the Net Zero Strategy and Ten Point Plan, stating that existing mechanisms like the Contracts for Difference scheme already benefit Scotland, but does not commit to specifically allocating a portion of the £12 billion for direct investment in Scottish renewable energy projects.
Scotland Office
View details
11 Conclusion
Fourth Report - Renewable energy i…
Due to the wide subject of renewable energy, we were not able to focus on...
Due to the wide subject of renewable energy, we were not able to focus on all issues that have been raised. Green hydrogen and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage 24 Renewable energy in Scotland (CCUS) need dedicated time to see … Read more
Scotland Office
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 10 of 6 classified
Accepted 1
Acknowledged 5
Deferred 3
Rejected 1
Total 6 recs + 5 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
10 Jan 2022 Correspondence with Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate, follow-up to the UK Government’s response to the Committee’s Renewable energy in Scotland Report, dated 7 December 2021 and 5 January 2022
Parliament page
20 Jul 2021 Correspondence with Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change at Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, follow-up to the oral evidence session on 12 July, 13 and 15 July 2021
Parliament page
15 Apr 2021 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, on Energy policy update - North Sea Transition Deal, 24 March 2021
Parliament page
15 Apr 2021 Letters from Christoph Harwood, Director of Policy and Strategy, Simply Blue Group, on floating offshore wind off Peterhead, 5 March 2021 and 8 April 2021
Parliament page