Audit Scotland confirm renewables targets achievable

Commenting on the Audit Scotland report on renewable energy Friends of the Earth Scotland Director, Dr Richard Dixon, said:

“It is good news that Audit Scotland confirm that we can meet the Scottish target of 100% renewable electricity by 2020, albeit with highlight some significant challenges on the way. The UK Government’s unhealthy enthusiasm for unconventional gas and nuclear are giving mixed messages to investors. While the Scottish Government is clearly working very hard to develop renewable energy, even here new draft planning policy is in danger of putting a brake on new onshore windfarms. Scotland has huge potential for energy from the wind and waves, and moving ahead rapidly will also ensure we have a major part in a huge global market for renewables technologies.

“We welcome the call from Audit Scotland for the government to make its ambitions beyond 2020 clearer.

“The Government has both a target and a grant scheme for community and local business renewables. This is doing well and we would like to see the target increased and more community groups benefiting.

“Renewable heat is a very important part of the equation, and Scotland is currently well on track to deliver on its target. We use much more energy for heat than we do as electricity so the government needs to do more in this area and particularly needs to make sure that smaller, local schemes develop rather than some of the mega schemes with dubious carbon claims which are currently proposed.”

Notes to Editors

1. Friends of the Earth Scotland is

* Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation
* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland
* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups – covering every continent. www.foe-scotland.org.uk