Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing (pictured) is calling on the UK government to provide more clarity on the future of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
He has written to UK Energy Secretary Amber Rudd asking for “urgent clarification” on the issue.
Indecision on the RHI is already hitting Scottish businesses with Star Renewable Energy has seen some schemes delay decisions about capital investment until there is further certainty on whether or not the RHI will continue beyond March 2016.
Scotland has set a target for 11% of non-electrical heat demand to come from renewable sources by 2020.
Ewing said: “Without continuation of the Renewable Heat Incentive, or a substantive replacement, there will be a substantial impact on renewable heat businesses and jobs in technologies, with disastrous results for the future of these Scottish businesses.
“The uncertainty from the UK Government has been going on too long now and it is time to provide clarity for this industry.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Renewables has called for more public buildings in Scotland to be heated by renewable heat.
It said that only 1% of buildings owned by Scots councils are heated by renewable energy.
The trade body said research shows local authorities have invested almost £8m making sure 225 schools, 17 leisure centres, 17 care homes and 63 other public buildings across Scotland are heated by renewable energy – but 24,806 are not.
It has launched a roadmap for renewable heat, titled ‘A Vision for Low-carbon Heat in Scotland’, which calls for action from both Scottish and UK governments.
Scottish Renewables policy manager and author of the document Stephanie Clark said: “Our key ask from the heat vision document has to be for the continuation of the Renewable Heat Incentive – the mechanism which supports the uptake of heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal, for example.
“The document also identifies other challenges which must be addressed if we are to have any chance of hitting that 2020 target.”
Scottish Renewables also called for:
- Exploring more progressive planning polices, emulating other parts of the UK, to increase uptake of renewable and low-carbon heat technologies;
- Working with industry to drive the further development of a regulatory framework designed to support market growth in renewable and low-carbon heat and increase investor and consumer confidence;
- Considering how funding and support can be made available for public buildings to take the lead in showcasing the advantages of renewable and low carbon heat
Image: Scottish Government