The Heat Policy Statement was published in 2015, which brings together and sets out Scottish Government's framework to deliver low-carbon heat to households, businesses and communities, along with promoting improvements in energy efficiency.
A report produced by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of Scottish Government shows Scotland is continuing to make progress towards its energy target of 11% of the country's heat demand being met by renewable generation. This objective is complemented by the target to reduce the total final energy consumption in Scotland by 12% (against a base line of the average energy consumption in 2005-07), and underpins our ambitious climate change targets including a 80% minimum reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a world leading 42% reduction by 2020. Heat networks are one of the ways which have been recognised as a means of meeting these targets. Scotland aims to deliver 1.5 TWh of heat by district energy schemes, having over 40,000 homes connected by 2020. As a result, a range of loans, grants and government incentives have been established to stimulate the growth of this emerging market. The available schemes will be explored in the financial analysis. |