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As this is a live application which will come before Scottish Ministers for determination, it would not be appropriate to comment on the specific merits of the proposal.

Where appropriate, the Scottish Government engages with developers, statutory consultees and other stakeholders on procedural or policy matters.

Potential impacts on communities, nature, landscape and other valued natural assets are important considerations in the decision-making process. The merits of each proposal are considered on a case-by-case basis, and a careful balance must be struck between the potential impacts of the development and the associated environmental, economic, renewable energy and climate change benefits.

A final decision will only be taken after careful and thorough consideration of all material issues including the representations received, consultee advice, relevant environmental information, as well as all planning information in accordance with the relevant legislative obligations.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44254 on 19 March 2026 .All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray awards grants on a competitive basis. Geothermal projects are able to apply as long as the funding criteria are met.

The Community and Renewable Energy Scheme provides support for communities across Scotland to develop their own renewable energy projects through its Community Energy Generation Growth Fund. This support covers a range of technologies and applications for deep geothermal projects are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan referred to the planned publication of a Renewables Export Plan to grow exports of goods and services related to energy produced from renewable sources, such as geothermal. We subsequently published ‘A Trading Nation – A Framework to Grow Scotland’s Renewables Exports’ in March 2023 and the ‘Renewables Exports: Action Plan’ in February 2025.

We will continue to work with stakeholders to improve understanding of Scotland’s deep geothermal resource and how it can help the journey to net zero.

Scotland’s geology provides the potential for deep geothermal to contribute to decarbonisation.

We are continuing to work with partners to support stakeholders as they assess this resource. Examples of this work include:

- Our enterprise agencies have awarded funding to a number of projects relating to geothermal energy, including to Aberdeen Council, Geothermal Energy Limited, and Cairngorm Mountain Scotland Limited.

- We provided funding in 2025 to NHS Grampian to allow it to assess the feasibility of using deep geothermal energy to heat the Foresterhill Health Campus in Aberdeen. The study concluded that while the use of geothermal is feasible, further exploration is required to determine whether it would be economically viable. NHS Grampian is reviewing its options following the conclusion of the feasibility study.

- We are engaging with the Mining Remediation Authority to identify opportunities to heat NHS facilities using geothermal heat stored in minewater.

The Scottish Government has confirmed that transitional funding for WES will be provided in financial year 2026-2027 which will give WES the opportunity to explore longer term funding solutions. It is of course important that WES continues to engage directly with their workforce as they consider the impact of future financial planning. My intention is that the work by the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), and WES on the transitional funding in 2026-27 will support constructive engagement with staff on WES’s future direction in line with Fair Work principles.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43883 on 17 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Wave Energy Scotland (WES) is a subsidiary of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). As a non-departmental public body, HIE operates independently of the Scottish Government and is responsible for setting out arrangements between itself and its subsidiaries, including WES.

Transitional funding for WES will be provided in financial year 2026-2027, giving WES the opportunity to explore longer term funding solutions.

The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related location policy.

The Scottish Government introduced an updated hybrid working policy on 27 October 2025 and as part of the implementation process has committed to establishing a formal location policy. I understand that development work for this will be informed by consultation with staff networks and trade unions. It is working to finalise the location policy later in 2026.

I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.

The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related hybrid working policy.

The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) for the Scottish Government’s hybrid working policy drew on a wide range of evidence, including feedback from staff networks and findings from the hybrid working policy review, to ensure the policy remains accessible and inclusive.

As the hybrid working policy is an internal operational matter that does not alter staff contractual terms and conditions, a formal Islands Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) was not required. We will continue to monitor the policy in practice, including any impacts on colleagues in island communities.

I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.

The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related location policy.

Scottish Government recognises the important contribution made by colleagues based across the country and benefit this brings to communities and the Civil Service as a whole. In developing and implementing our hybrid working policy, specific consideration was given to our dispersed workforce, particularly colleagues living in rural and island communities. Work to clarify a location policy for Scottish Government core staff will consider a range of relevant factors and benefit from consultation with trade unions and engagement with staff and diversity networks across the organisation.

I would encourage the member to direct any further questions on this matter to the Permanent Secretary.