Select Committee · Scottish Affairs Committee

Renewable energy in Scotland

Status: Closed Opened: 19 Mar 2021 Closed: 8 Feb 2022 6 recommendations 5 conclusions 1 report

We have launched an inquiry into renewable energy in Scotland just months before the world descends on Glasgow for November’s COP26 UN Climate Conference. This inquiry is likely to examine: how ‘net-zero’ targets can be met by development of renewable energy in Scotland; the technologies that would best serve Scotland and how challenges in their … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Renewable energy in Scotland HC 51 17 Sep 2021 11 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
3 Conclusion Fourth Report - Renewable energy in Sco… Deferred

The evidence we have heard has highlighted issues around the volatility of transmission charges.

The evidence we have heard has highlighted issues around the volatility of transmission charges. The short-term volatility of transmission charges is a barrier to the development of renewable energy as it affects confidence in investment and the future cost of a project. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of transmission charging arrangements but defers to Ofgem's ongoing call for evidence on reforms, stating that next steps will be announced later.
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Scotland Office
4 Conclusion Fourth Report - Renewable energy in Sco… Deferred

Locational transmission charges weigh more heavily on developers in Scotland when projects in other areas...

Locational transmission charges weigh more heavily on developers in Scotland when projects in other areas of the UK, like Wales, are paid to connect to the grid. The financial burden of transmission charges and grid investment needs to be justly shared across the UK and not fall heavily, and unjustly, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's view on transmission charges but defers to Ofgem's ongoing call for evidence on reforms, with next steps expected to be announced later this quarter.
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Scotland Office
5 Recommendation Fourth Report - Renewable energy in Sco… Deferred

We recommend that the UK Government specifies that, as part of its internal review, Ofgem...

We recommend that the UK Government specifies that, as part of its internal review, Ofgem must consider the financial burden of transmission charges in Scotland. Ofgem should consider the long-term impacts on net zero targets and aim for a way to ensure renewable energy projects have the chance to flourish … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government defers to Ofgem's ongoing call for evidence on transmission charging reforms, stating that Ofgem will announce next steps later this quarter, without committing to the specific review or publication timeline requested.
Read full response →
Scotland Office

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
12 Jul 2021 John Waldron · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy View ↗
5 Jul 2021 Bob MacGregor · Unite the Union, Dave Moxham · Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) View ↗
28 Jun 2021 Christopher Milne · Orbital Marine Power, Dr Gareth Davies · Aquatera, Neil Kermode · European Marine Energy Centre Ltd (EMEC), Steven Bruce · Orkney Islands Council View ↗
27 May 2021 Neil Douglas · BVG Associates, Professor Karen Turner · University of Strathclyde, Professor Keith Bell · UK Energy Research Centre View ↗

Who gave evidence

11 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Bob MacGregor · Industrial officer Unite the Union 1
Christopher Milne · Chief Financial Officer Orbital Marine Power 1
Dave Moxham · Deputy General Secretary Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) 1
Dr Gareth Davies · Managing Director Aquatera 1
John Waldron · Policy Lead for Renewable Electricity Futures Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy 1
Neil Douglas · Director BVG Associates 1
Neil Kermode · Managing Director European Marine Energy Centre Ltd (EMEC) 1
Professor Karen Turner · Director, Centre for Energy Policy University of Strathclyde 1
Professor Keith Bell · Co-Director UK Energy Research Centre 1
Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan · UK International Champion on Adaptation and Resil… Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy 1
Steven Bruce · Project Officer (ReFLEX) Orkney Islands Council 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
10 Jan 2022 Correspondence with Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for Energy, Clean G…
20 Jul 2021 Correspondence with Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Minister for Energy, Clean …
15 Apr 2021 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy &…
15 Apr 2021 Letters from Christoph Harwood, Director of Policy and Strategy, Simply Blue Gr…

Meetings & visits

1 item
DateTypeDetail
13 Sep 2021 Formal meeting (private meeting) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House