Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 2
Fourth Report - Renewable energy in Scotland
Published 17 Sep 2021
Paragraph 11
Addressed to Scotland Office
Scottish Affairs Committee Renewable energy in Scotland All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The grid is critical for renewable energy to reach consumers. Urgent investment is needed in the grid to ensure that net zero targets are met. The grid needs to be reinforced and expanded to ensure that renewable energy generated in Scotland can connect to the grid and benefit the rest of the UK. We recommend that Ofgem completes a review of the grid in Scotland as a matter of urgency, and at the latest by the end of 2022 to implement changes in good time for the 2045 target. Ofgem should make bold decisions by prioritising reinforcement of the grid in areas where there is potential for a high renewable energy yield. Since net zero targets have already been set in law, Scotland should be enabled to play its part fully in the renewable energy mix of the UK.
From: Scottish Affairs Committee, Fourth Report - Renewable energy in Scotland (HC 51), paragraph 11, 17 September 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 1 December 2021 (deadline 17 November 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response sets out its position on each recommendation, stating that network regulation and transmission charging are "a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator" and that it "has no plans to amend Ofgem's statutory duties".
- On grid reinforcement, the government "recognises the need for increased capacity on the grid" and says it "will continue to engage with Ofgem"; it gives no response on the Committee's deadline of the end of 2022.
- On transmission charging, it "shares the Committee's view on the importance" of the arrangements. It notes that Ofgem published a call for evidence on possible reforms and has said it will announce next steps "later this quarter".
- On Ofgem's statutory duties, it states it "has no plans to amend Ofgem's statutory duties to include a separate net-zero duty". It points instead to its commitment to consult on a Strategy and Policy Statement for Ofgem in 2021.
- On tidal energy, it says tidal stream "will have to reduce its costs to compete" but is an eligible technology for Contracts for Difference. It is "evaluating" evidence from last year's call for evidence on marine energy.