Local Energy Matters: Scotland In this issue: Focus on: Scottish energy news | Energy tariff headlines | Scotland energy tariffs | Scottish Government decarbonisation plan | Scotland’s success in Clean Air Strategy| World’s most powerful turbine to be built in Dundee 1 | P a g e Issue 9 | Bumper - September 2019 Scottish energy news University of St Andrews reduce emissions footprint On 2 August, the University of St Andrews announced the launch of a £3.75mn energy conservation campaign to see the university drop its carbon footprint by 950 tonnes a year. The overhaul may additionally result in the university saving £650,000 per year in operating costs. Among the energy saving measures being deployed to achieve this goal are a new district heating network, energy efficient LED lighting, and solar power generation fittings at the university’s sports centre. Smart building management systems will also be installed. The project will see refurbishment of 30 university buildings which account for the largest energy use and make-up 85% of the campus’ annual energy spend. The project was procured through the Scottish Government Non Domestic Energy Efficiency (NDEE) Framework and will be delivered by Vital Energi. Operations Manager at Vital Energi, Scott Lutton, explained the NDEE as ”a successful Scottish Government framework which allows organisations to balance their low-carbon ambitions with financial stability, ensuring that the improvements not only pay for themselves, but also generate a profit over the course of their design life”. St Andrews Quaestor Derek Watson added: “We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our energy efficiency wherever possible as we move towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral for our energy use”. Sturgeon launches Stirling District Heat Network First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opened a £6mn heat network project on 7 August. The network will harness energy from wastewater to provide heat to local businesses and public buildings in Stirling. The project received £2mn funding through the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme and is being developed collaboratively with Stirling Council and Scottish Water Horizons. This project is the first of its kind in the UK - providing low-carbon and affordable heat to the Stirling community. This project comes after announced aims for Stirling to become a carbon-neutral city following declaration of a climate emergency. Ms Sturgeon said: “We have already proposed one of the most ambitious statutory emissions targets anywhere in the world, and today’s announcements illustrate our commitment to developing new and innovative policies which will make a real difference. The Stirling Renewable Heat Demonstration Project is a great example of this, using wastewater to help provide energy to local businesses and public buildings.” 2 | P a g e £450,000 fund to improve energy efficiency £450,000 of funding has been made available by the Scottish Government to support Local Authorities decarbonise heat and improve energy efficiency. Published on 7 September, nine Local Authorities who have not yet piloted strategies will be able to apply for this funding: Angus, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire Council. The strategies will identify local solutions to reduce emissions from buildings and tackle fuel poverty. Paul Wheelhouse, Scotland’s Energy Minister, commented on the development; “Communities and Local Authorities are vital in helping us achieve our ambitious target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. These strategies will give Local Authorities and communities a real stake in planning how to reduce emissions from how we heat our homes and buildings.” Council homes to receive battery storage The Scottish Government has given praise to Stirling council in response to investment made in innovative battery storage technology to help tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency. Stirling Council has contributed £324,000, and has also been part funded by the Scottish Government. Investment and implementation with this technology has been largely driven by compliance of the new Energy Efficiency Standards for Social Housing 2 which was launched in June by Kevin Stewart, the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning. When visiting two tenants who participated in the pilot scheme for the batteries, Mr Stewart commended the Stirling Council for “ensuring that more than 90% of their properties are achieving the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing, which is great news for their tenants and for the environment.” The batteries work by capturing excess electricity generated from the home’s solar panels that would otherwise have been exported to the grid, allowing it to be used in the evening once the solar panels had stopped generating for the day. This technology appears to have been successful, with homes using the battery storage being over 90% self-sufficient from electricity generated from the solar panels. Housing portfolio holder Cllr Evelyn Tweed also commented on the impact the technology has made to the local tenants saying “The continued investment in our solar panels and battery storage programme means that more and more Stirling Council tenants are feeling the benefits of reduced electricity bills and helps facilitate our work to tackle fuel poverty across the Stirling area. Housing Portfolio Holder Councillor Evelyn Tweed also commented on the impact the technology has made to the local tenants, saying “the continued investment in our solar panels and battery storage programme3 | P a g e means that more and more Stirling Council tenants are feeling the benefits of reduced electricity bills and helps facilitate our work to tackle fuel poverty across the Stirling area”. Warrington Council to invest £18mn in energy Warrington Borough Council is set to pay £18mn for a 50% stake in Scottish energy company, Together Energy, which is based in Clydebank. The Labour-run authority is also expected to grant a £4mn loan to the supplier. The deal was finalised after agreements surrounding equity and loans came to completion. The final decision on the deal was to be made after a ‘risk workshop’ on 16 September, however Councillor Russ Bowden explained that the decision should be completed within two weeks of the workshop. Financial particulars on the project have not been made public. Deputy council leader Councillor Cathy Mitchell said the investment will help the authority deliver on its climate emergency resolution by “hopefully offering 100% green energy” to the town’s residents. Furthermore, she told members it will help to reduce fuel poverty, which around 10,000 people in Warrington suffer. Beyond financial motivators, the investment is particularly focused on helping the community in the Clydebank area, noted to be one of the poorest areas in the country. The investment hosts schemes designed to get unemployed people back into work and is to deliver further employment opportunities beyond, with an office in Warrington due to create 20 jobs in its first year. Councillor Judith Guthrie, portfolio holder for Environment and Public Protection, said the move “really ties in” with the borough’s green energy strategy, while Councillor Tony Higgins, cabinet member for leisure and community, believes it reflects on Labour’s pledge to protect the most vulnerable in society. Scottish Government focuses on decarbonisation The Scottish Government has recently reinforced its focus on tackling decarbonisation, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recognising and commenting on Scotland’s contribution to the climate emergency earlier this year. The Programme for Government sets out the next steps and vision for tackling climate change including: • Investment of more than £500mn to improve bus infrastructure across the country to promote public transport • Decarbonisation of Scotland’s railways by 2035, alongside making the Highlands and Islands the world’s first net zero aviation region by 2040 • A ‘Green New Deal’, harnessing the power of the Scottish National Investment Bank and creating a £3 billion package of investments to attract green finance to Scotland • New regulations to ensure that home built from 2024 onwards must use renewable or low carbon heat alongside a minimum target investment of £30mn to support heat projects • Introduction of a Heat Network Bill which will safeguard heat network consumers 4 | P a g e The First Minister spoke about the new investment stating “this year’s Programme for Government is an important part of our response to the climate emergency, containing measures which will reduce emissions while supporting sustainable and inclusive growth”. Citizen’s Advice Scotland’s Head of Energy, Dr Jamie Scott, said “the Scottish government’s declaration of a climate emergency had to be followed up by substaintial changes in policy and investment, and the Programme for Government is a good step in that direction”. Scottish Government announces climate emergency On 28 April, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced “I am declaring that there is a climate emergency. And Scotland will live up to our responsibilty to tackle it”, in which she pledged Scotland will “lead by example”. It was noted that this speech was made after Sturgeon met with a group of young activists, as she explained ”they want governments around the world to declare a climate emergency”. 10%