Scotland sets 15% emission reduction target

Speaking at the Scottish Renewables annual conference last week, First Minister Jack McConnell said no other country in the UK has gone so far in its commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Adding: “But this is just the first step.”

The new bill, published by the Scottish Executive in its planning guidance for renewable energy developments, aims to boost the use of microrenewable energy, such as wind turbines, heat pumps and solar panels.

Jason Ormiston, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said it will help planners support other forms of renewable energy developments. “There is clearly a huge interest in installing devices and I hope that housebuilders install devices with enthusiasm,” he said.

The new planning guidance will come into effect immediately and cover all new private and public developments of more than 500 sq m.

McConnell said: “Crucially, our new guidance doesn’t just apply to large scale developments. It also puts a requirement on all new developments to reduce carbon emissions by at least 15%.”

In another announcement, the Scottish Executive has said as many as 74 biomass projects across Scotland are to share £10.5m in a programme aimed at reducing carbon emissions by 37,000 tonnes a year. The statement has come a week after the government promised to boost the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme by £3m.