Building more new offshore wind capacity and repowering onshore sites are advocated as part of a set of actions that civic and business leaders say Scotland must take in to address global warming.
The wind recommendations are part of a ‘12-point action plan’ drawn up by the Climate Emergency Response Group (CERG) and presented to the Scottish government.
CERG’s members include representatives from Scottish Renewables, Scottish Land & Estates, NHS National Services, WWF Scotland and 2050 Climate Group.
As one of the 12 policy recommendations, the document advocates ‘complete plans’ for how Scotland can generate the amount of renewable electricity needed to reach net zero climate emissions, as the Scottish Government’s main powers in terms of the electricity sector relate to planning.
According to ‘12 immediate actions for Scotland’s response to the Climate Emergency’ document, the new Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind and combined Scottish Planning Policy and National Planning Framework currently being prepared by Scottish Government will play a vital role in facilitating the release of areas suitable for the next phase of Scotland’s renewable electricity deployment.
Marine planning should also support “further renewable electricity deployment,” while terrestrial planning should take account of the “forthcoming repowering needs of existing onshore wind assets” and identify how these opportunities can best support delivery against the climate emergency with the most efficient technologies.
The document notes that while Scotland has already made “huge strides” in decarbonising its electricity generation, the integrated decarbonisation of heating and transport will require “very significantly increased” renewable electricity generation and an energy systems approach.
The Climate Change Committee’s scenarios for reaching net-zero call for an indicative installation across the UK of up to 4GW/year of offshore wind, including repowering existing sites, and a further 1GW/year of onshore wind and up to 4GW/year of solar.
“Although the CCC says such deployment rates are feasible, this will nonetheless require a concerted effort to address current market barriers, electricity network capacity and flexibility and work to ensure that planning systems are able to deliver,” CERG stated.
Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack said: “This is the time for us all to support strong changes to policy and programmes in response to the climate emergency, and this report sets out our initial recommendations for the Scottish Government’s leadership role.
“The adoption of these policies by the Scottish Government would demonstrate world-leading commitment, slashing our emissions and showing where the rest of the world can follow us.”