Renewable energy
Our view at SNH is that over the coming decades climate change is the most serious threat to Scotland's natural heritage.
We therefore strongly support the development of renewable energy if it replaces the burning of fossil fuels and leads to net carbon savings.
Our roles are mainly to:
- offer advice to designers to help them select appropriate locations and assess the likely impacts
- act as a statutory adviser to local authorities and the Scottish Government, giving our advice on renewable energy project applications and associated Environmental Statements.
Our response
To help us do this we:
- have supportive statements on renewable energy generally, on marine renewables and biomass energy, and a locational strategy for onshore windfarms
- publish guidance on a range of more technical issues such as how to assess the impacts of windfarms on birds and landscapes
- encourage a planned approach to renewables, using the right sites to minimise adverse impacts on the natural heritage
Since 2001, we have responded to over 230 renewables proposals (at October 2009). We have supported around 78% of these, some without reservation and some subject to conditions relating to the natural heritage
We believe that the Scottish Government's target of 50% of gross Scottish electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020 can be met, largely through onshore wind and existing large-scale hydro schemes, though not without some cumulative impact on some of Scotlands upland landscapes. Meeting higher targets will depend on bringing forward offshore technologies such as wave and tidal stream power and offshore wind, as outlined in the Climate Change Delivery Plan and the Scottish Government's Renewables Action Plan.
For further information see the Renewable Energy pages of this Website, or contact brendan.turvey@snh.gov.uk 01738 458622