Clean Growth Strategy reaction

The UK Government has published its Clean Growth Strategy.

Responding, Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said:

Today’s Clean Growth Strategy provides some important commitments from the UK Government which will further our transition to a low-carbon economy.

The renewed support for offshore wind deployment and innovation, and the commitment to work with the industry on a Sector Deal, is to be welcomed, and will help move the UK towards its goal of reducing carbon emissions while delivering affordable energy and clean growth.

It is however disappointing that no commitment has yet been made to allow onshore wind and solar PV - the cheapest forms of new power generation - to compete for contracts to sell the clean power they produce.

With cost reduction recognised as an important part of the continued growth of our low-carbon energy system, it is startling that cheap, popular onshore wind and solar PV are excluded once again from plans for the UK’s energy future.

We now look forward to seeing the outcome of the Government’s Cost of Energy Review, where we expect to see these lowest-cost technologies recognised as crucial for the delivery of cheap, clean power for Britain’s homes and businesses.

Today’s announcement also brings some certainty for less-established technologies: £557 million to be made available for future power contract auctions, with the next scheduled for Spring 2019. We welcome the announcement that onshore wind projects on Scotland’s remote islands, as well as wave and tidal energy technologies, will be allowed to bid alongside offshore wind and biomass heat and power.

It remains imperative, however, that Government use the tools at its disposal to support wave and tidal technologies along the path to full commercialisation and cost reduction.

We welcome the many positive announcements on heat and transport, and the commitment to work with industry to set out an effective long-term market framework for the heat sector beyond 2020.

Despite the positive steps detailed in today’s Clean Growth Strategy, the Government still expects to miss the fifth carbon budget unless it purchases international carbon credits.

While the announcements made in the Strategy on cutting carbon in the heat and transport sectors in particular are welcome, the Government will need to go further still if it is to meet its legal requirements on climate change and its global commitments under the Paris Agreement.