BSRIA has welcomed the Scottish Government’s plans on low carbon heat.

On 11 June the Scottish Government published its Heat Policy Statement (HPS), outlining how the Scottish administration plans to decarbonise the heat system.

The policy has three main objectives: reducing the need for heat; supplying heat efficiently and at least cost to consumers; and using renewable and low carbon heat

One of the key features of the HPS will be an Energy Efficiency Plan which will provide support for energy efficiency improvements in both domestic and non-domestic buildings in Scotland.

BSRIA chief executive Julia Evans said: 'We welcome the release of this statement. The Scottish government have set out a target of 11% of heat generation coming from renewable sources by 2020, and currently the figure is only 3%. Clearly if the Scottish government is going to hit their target there needs to be a fundamental change in how heat is generated. Heating is the largest contributor to energy bills, having energy efficient buildings and producing heat efficiently will, in addition to benefitting the environment, contribute to improving energy security and reduce fuel poverty both of which can have real benefit to the Scottish economy.'

One area of change strongly supported by the Scottish Government is the use of district and communal heating systems with a 2020 target of 1.5TWh of Scotland’s heat demand being produced in this way and having 40,000 homes connected to these networks.

Ms Evans added: 'To achieve their carbon reduction targets, the Scottish Government is going to need to employ a mix of incentive and legislation to support the statement, but as importantly they need to ensure that despite how difficult the challenges they maintain their commitment to achieving their targets if they are going to give investors confidence and ultimately bring about the real change needed.'