- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 18 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what baseline data it used in terms of the capacity and supply of electricity from different methods of generation, including renewables, when developing the Scottish Renewables Obligation targets and what its most up-to-date information is on the current levels of electricity generation and demand to inform these targets.
Answer
The target set for the Scottish Renewables Obligation (SRO) in 1994 was to support the development of 150 megawatts of new renewable electricity generation capacity. The latest projections from the energy regulator (Ofgem Scotland), based on feedback from SRO developers, indicate that this target should be achieved by 2003.The new Renewables Obligation (Scotland), or ROS, will place an obligation on all electricity suppliers to have a rising proportion of their electricity accounted for by renewable sources. We intend to use the ROS to raise this proportion from around 13% in 2003 to 18% by 2010, a similar increase to that planned for the UK as a whole. Previous studies have indicated that there is enough potential renewable energy in Scotland to meet economically the 2010 target, even allowing for growth in Scottish demand.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 18 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what CO2 emission savings it estimates will be delivered in each year as a result of meeting the Scottish Renewables Obligation target of 18% of electricity produced from renewable sources by 2010.
Answer
Our target of 18% of Scottish electricity supply to be accounted for by renewable energy will be achieved by the new Renewables Obligation (Scotland). Resultant CO2 savings will vary depending on the fuel source of the generation displaced by the increased renewable energy which we expect the ROS to stimulate, but we expect them to be in the range of 660 to 1,950 kilotonnes by 2010.Further research on Scottish emissions projections is being undertaken as part of the Scottish Climate Change Programme.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated the statutory and regulatory requirements with which developers of wave energy power stations in other countries must comply and whether it has any plans to incorporate any best practices which it has identified.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in each of the last two years to encourage the development of wave energy power stations on the Scottish coast or in Scottish territorial waters
Answer
We are aware of the excellent work being carried out by Scottish companies in this field, and applaud the progress made thus far, which is due in part to the unique support offered to wave power in Scotland under the third round of the Scottish Renewables Obligation. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with the key players as we consider appropriate ways in which to help further the industry in Scotland.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated the statutory, regulatory and financial requirements with which developers of wave energy power stations on the Scottish coast or in Scottish territorial waters must comply and whether it has developed or plans to develop any strategy to reduce any barriers to such development which it has identified.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15427.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the statutory consultees which the developer of a floating offshore wave energy power station moored to the seabed has to consult before mooring the station on site and when such consultation should take place.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15422.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the statutory consents necessary for the installation of a floating offshore wave energy power station moored to the seabed, the authorities to whom each application for such consents must be submitted, what average time is taken to issue each consent and what the current level is of any application fee.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15421.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the statutory consultees whom the developer of a shore based wave energy power station has to consult before construction of the station can commence and when such consultation should take place.
Answer
As a matter of best practice, we advise developers to speak with the relevant planning authority, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency before submitting an application under section 36 of the 1989 Electricity Act. These are the statutory consultees defined by the Act, although the views of other interested bodies are also sought. Experience with previous renewable energy projects shows that most developers undertake extensive discussions and briefings for local residents prior to submitting their actual applications.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the statutory consents necessary for the construction of an offshore wave energy power station founded on the seabed and the authorities to whom each application for such consents must be submitted, what average time is taken to issue each consent and what the current level is of any consent application fee is.
Answer
The consents required for an offshore wind or water driven generating station are as follows:
- Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 (consent under section 36 is only required if installed generating capacity is in excess of 50 megawatts, with an application fee of between £5,000 and £20,000 depending on size);
- Section 5 of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, and
- Section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949.
Applications for these consents must be made to the Scottish Ministers via the relevant departments. In addition, an application to the Crown Estate is required for the lease on an offshore site, and the Crown Estate will only consider granting a lease when, amongst other things, it is satisfied that the developer has obtained all the necessary statutory consents.There is no maximum time taken to issue such consents, although the relevant departments would always aim to process these as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many developers have applied to it or any of its agencies or public bodies for consents to construct wave energy power stations on the Scottish coast or in Scottish territorial waters since 1990 and whether it will list each application and the current status of each.
Answer
Scotland's only existing wave energy power station is Wavegen's LIMPET (Land Installed Marine Power Energy Transformer) built on the shoreline at Islay, which began generating late last year. The station secured planning consent from the local authority before construction commenced.The same company also developed an offshore device which it planned to install off the coast at Dounreay. The device, called OSPREY (Ocean Swell Powered Renewable Energy) was destroyed by bad weather in August 1995 before it could be properly installed. Prior to the aborted installation, the company had applied for and received consent under the Coast Protection Act 1949, and under section 5 of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.
