1. Wind Energy Policy Perspective Isla Robb Scottish Enterprise
31st May 2017

2. Why
The current focus of the UK Energy policy are on reforming the Electricity Market, rolling out smart meters and improving the energy efficiency of the UK building stock through the Green Deal.
 Scottish Government has an energy policy for Scotland at variance with UK policy, and has planning powers to reflect this.
We have policies in place to reflect the needs of the Climate Change Act.
Some are the carrot and some are more the stick...

3. What we have Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)
Community Energy Policy
Electricity Generation Policy
Scottish Planning Policy
The current policy landscape is wide and varying when it comes to Energy Policy. This is understandable as it crosses so many areas

4. Aim for Energy Policy
‘Whole-system’ view
•Economic modelling, informing view of Scotland’s future energy supply and demand
•Integrated approach to heat, power and transport
•New 50% ‘all energy’ 2030 renewables target
•Renewed focus on energy efficiency and energy demand reduction
Stable energy transition
•Long-term plan, consistent with requirements of the Climate Change Plan
•Flexible to future changes in technology and patterns of energy use
•Managed transition of energy supply, post-nuclear
A smarter model of local energy provision
•Encouragement for new localised models of energy supply and use
•Enhanced role for local planning and local ownership
•New economic opportunities of energy storage and ‘smart’ energy solutions
There is an ambitious new 2030 target of 50% of Scotland’s energy consumption to be met by renewable energy
Energy policy has to look at
Getting the market right for renewables as the costs continue to fall – particularly in onshore and offshore wind
Building on the success of our existing energy industries and exploring the role of new forms of energy

5. Wind Onshore wind Subsidy free – how do we support/ encourage this?
Planning – clarity needed
Offshore wind
•Improved consenting procedures
•Support for innovation and cost reduction
•Support for remaining developments under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) – supporting floating wind demonstrators
Scotland’s onshore wind sector has grown markedly over the past 10 years supporting an estimated 7,500 FTEs (direct and indirect) as of 2015.
Feedback from industry suggests that there is sustained support for more onshore wind in Scotland, but the absence of a supportive UK framework makes any new development extremely challenging. Therefore, the strategy’s focus on finding a route to market for ‘subsidy free’ onshore wind is welcome, but far more information will be required on how the necessary cost reductions can be achieved in order to make this possible.
There is a strong view within industry that larger turbines are vital for achieving subsidy free operation, but these are restricted by the current planning landscape, which is complex with varying approaching across the local bodies.
There is also a need for guidance on onshore wind repowering, which will be important for the sustainable, long term future of the Scottish onshore wind sector, but which faces the same barriers to market as the new projects.
Offshore wind continues to offer significant economic opportunities for Scottish companies, particularly in relation to products and services for subsea installation, the fabrication of offshore substructures, and the operations and maintenance of turbines, arrays, and their connections. 
Given the market dependence on continued cost reduction, there is a need to support innovation in these aforementioned areas of strength for Scotland.  Opportunities and impacts can also be significantly improved through greater cross-sector collaboration, which should also be encouraged and supported. 
More Scottish projects would deliver more opportunities for the Scottish supply chain and so we would encourage any action that could ensure a pipeline of available project sites.

6. Challenges
There is need for clarity on how the planning system can be used to support the future energy system
For larger turbines and a more simplified process
Many future energy solutions will be highly localised and the challenge will be to create and sustain the expectation that local solutions can be allowed and encouraged.
Pipeline of projects – easy to say – not so straight forward to produce – to ensure the full benefit to Scotland

7. Opportunities
Opportunities are there and plentiful. Some will be lost if we don’t act quick enough. But let’s get it right.

8. Thank you