The Scottish government has agreed to work with the Scottish Green Party to deliver a green economic recovery from the pandemic, detailing a collaboration to address the climate emergency with solar power and efficiently heating homes.
In the programme, the Scottish government noted that solar power is important to continuing the decarbonisation of the country’s heat and electricity supply. Therefore, the forthcoming Energy Strategy will, in consultation with the sector, set out a vision for solar power’s future.
Welcoming the inclusion of solar energy, Chris Hewett, chief executive of Solar Energy UK, said: “Scotland has a more ambitious target on net-zero than the rest of the UK, so we are looking forward to working closely with the new government to ensure solar energy can play a full part in the race to cut carbon emissions.
“The opportunities are huge, from a new generation of solar parks to co-location with wind farms, large rooftop schemes and using onsite solar to decarbonise heat and transport.”
Thomas McMillan, chair of Solar Energy Scotland, added: “The solar energy industry in Scotland welcomes the clear recognition in the cooperation agreement of the important role solar can play in Scotland’s drive to meet our 2030 climate obligations.
“As the cheapest, most readily deployable renewable technology, with substantial benefits for the economy and helping to tackle fuel poverty, it is time for the sector to be allowed to grow and flourish. Scotland’s solar opportunities could see deployment increase 15-fold by 2030, and this would deliver a solar sector in Scotland proportional to what is being achieved elsewhere in the UK.”
Solar Energy Scotland is now calling on the government to set a minimum solar deployment target of 4GW by 2030, with an ambitious government delivering as much as 6GW over the next decade.
>> You can read more about developments in rooftop solar power here.
