Scotland should set an ambitious new target of generating the equivalent of 50% of its total electricity, heat and transport demand from renewables by 2030, according to industry body Scottish Renewables.
Scottish Renewables is calling for the new target as part of its manifesto, Renewed Ambitions: Defining the Future of Renewable Energy in Scotland , launched today ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament election.
The document sets out how the organisation believes Scotland’s next government can best support the continued growth of the sector and the economic and environment benefits it is already delivering.
Amongst other things, Scottish Renewables is recommending working with industry and the UK government to secure a viable investment framework for all forms of renewable energy.
Also, the organization has called for supporting the innovation by developing an Energy Innovation Strategy to work across business and academia to make Scotland an internationally-recognised centre of excellence in energy systems and storage, and to maximise the economic impact of renewable energy related R&D.
It also seeks the support for the development of new forms of renewable energy where Scotland has the potential to be a world leader, including offshore wind, wave and tidal energy sectors.
Niall Stuart , Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “Achieving this new target will require strategic leadership from the next Scottish government. The development of a comprehensive and joined-up energy strategy will allow the sector to maintain its competitiveness as well as spearheading the development and deployment of new technologies.
“Not only will these measures support growth in the next chapter of our industry, they will ensure that renewables can play a key role in meeting Scotland’s climate change targets, and maximise the jobs and investment that our sector can bring to Scotland.”
Meeting the new goal would require a threefold increase in green energy generation, with new figures showing Scotland on track to be more than halfway there by the end of this decade, Scottish Renewables’ press release reads.