The SNP will seek to establish a government-owned energy company to back community renewable projects as part of its manifesto commitments for next month’s Holyrood elections.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s party said it would explore the potential to create a state-owned company to boost renewables growth and empower communities to use the income from energy developments to support other communities.
The pledge unveiled in the SNP’s manifesto is one of series of policy measures aimed at bolstering Scotland’s renewable energy industry.
Other policies include:
- Developing a new Scottish energy strategy to be implemented over the next Parliament and beyond. The strategy will take a “whole system view” and encompass demand reduction, energy efficiency, a balanced energy generation mix, a role for storage, and the requirement for a low carbon transition in transport and heat use.
- Pressing the UK Government to progress EU State Aid approval for remote island onshore wind and bringing forward a package of support that will facilitate grid connections to the Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles.
- Continued support for wave energy technology through Wave Energy Scotland and the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.
- A pledge to “work closely” with the Solar Trade Association to advance proposals for expanding solar energy in Scotland.
- By 2020, at least half of newly-consented renewable energy projects will have an element of shared ownership.
- Work to support the further growth of community and locally owned renewable energy projects, with new targets of 1GW of community and locally-owned energy by 2020 and 2GW by 2030.
- Argue for Scottish control of our share of feed-in tariffs to help promote community ownership schemes.
- Explore the creation of a Scottish Renewable Energy Bond in order to allow savers to invest in and support Scotland’s renewable energy sector.
Image: Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish government)