The implications of Brexit for investment in the UK’s renewable energy supply chain are uncertain, as much will depend on the broader terms of departure and the future relationship with the EU, which remain unclear.

This research report considers the extent to which Brexit poses a risk to renewable electricity investment in the UK – and Scotland in particular.

In the medium terms Brexit may affect Scotland’s substantial number of on- and off-shore wind projects in the pipeline. The terms may translate into reduced access to low-cost financing for these projects, the imposition of tariff and non-tariff barriers on low-carbon goods and services, reduced access to a skilled pool of labour, as well as more limited entitlements to European public funding for Research & Development.

At the same time, however, there are positive signs that European utilities remain committed to developing the UK’s domestic supply chain; we consider recent inward investment flows and record low auction prices for delivering offshore wind energy as encouraging signs of industry resilience.

Heating for commercial and residential buildings represents 53% of Scotland’s total energy demand. This makes decarbonisation heat a key challenge.

Hydrogen can be used as an alternative to natural gas for space and water heating and can potentially be delivered through the existing gas distribution network following upgrade. Switching from natural gas to hydrogen has been identified as the principal option to enable the gas networks to continue supplying energy for space and water heating in line with climate targets.

This report reviews recent literature and summarises what we know from existing and planned hydrogen-for-heat projects with relevance to the Scottish context. 

How light and shadow effects from wind farms are considered in the development planning process in Scotland was raised in our report Wind Farm Impacts Study, published in July 2015. The Impact Study made a number of recommendations for developing better guidance on predicting and limiting the impac of wind farm developments.

The findings in this follow-up study aims to feed in to the Scottish Government thinking on how light and shadow effects are assessed and considered through the planning process, and potentially inform future guidance for developers and planning authorities.

The research makes a number of recommendations:

  • There needs to be consistency between guidance documents and planning policy on the definition of shadow flicker
  • A definition of the outdoor effects of light and shadow related effects should be included for clarity
  • Guidance should
    • include acknowledgement of the issue of reflected light
    • clarify the likely requirement for visible lighting, and how potential landscape and visual effects should be addressed
    • explicitly set out the parameters when shadow flicker may occur and which are required for likely case scenario modelling
    •  not include reference to the occurrence of shadow throw ‘within 130 degrees either side of north’.
    • exclude reference to the 10 rotor diameter distance
    • set out the need to consider cumulative shadow flicker and further guidance on how this should be approached
  • There is also a need for guidance on the thresholds of exposure to shadow flicker in Scotland; and on different factors which may affect the sensitivity of different types of receptor to light and shadow related effects.

When the Longannet power station closed in 2016 it raised debate about Scotland’s ability to meet its peak demand for electricity. In the period until 2030 we are expecting further major changes to the Scottish electricity system:

  • Hunterston and Torness nuclear stations are both expected to close by 2030,
  • there is no certainty over the long term future of Peterhead gas power station,
  • the capacity of wind generation is expected to grow, and
  • the size of the peak demand is also likely to grow.

As a result the flows of electricity across the transmission network will be considerably more variable. Towards the end of the 2020s, at the latest, it is likely that we will need either new transmission links with the rest of Great Britain, or new generation capacity that is capable of being scheduled in advance, to ensure Scotland’s peak demand security-of-supply.

This study analyses the current level of transmission import capability and investigates the transmission import capability required going forward.

Main findings:

  • Development of either new transmission links or new schedulable generation capacity in Scotland is likely be required by the late 2020s. Given the time scales normally required for transmission and generation projects, it is important that system planners, regulators and policy makers ensure that further examination of the requirements and potential options begins soon.
  • Scottish peak-demand security is only one of a number of aspects of security-of-supply. Ensuring that future system developments support all aspects of security will be vital to keeping the system operational and resilient. Regulators and policy makers need to be aware of the technical and multi-dimensional nature of electricity security-of-supply, and ensure that generation and network resources are designed to ensure that all aspects of security are maintained to acceptable levels.
  • The current deterministic calculations used to estimate the required capability of the transmission system in respect of reliability of supply need to be revisited in light of two factors:
      • (i) the increased penetration of weather dependent renewable resources such as wind; and
      • (ii) the emergence of a situation where large regions of the GB system, such as Scotland, have a small number of large conventional generation units.

The Scottish Government has asked ClimateXChange (CXC) to manage a research project to review how light and shadow effects from wind farms are considered and communicated in the development planning process in Scotland.  

This project follows on from CXC’s Wind Farm Impacts Study (2015), which looked at whether the impacts predicted by wind farm developers in documentation submitted with their planning applications are consistent with the impacts experienced once the wind farm is operational.

That study considered a range of evidence, including information provided by residents who live near wind turbines. It found that residents have reportedly experienced a range of light and shadow effects from wind farms that have not been identified by assessments undertaken during the planning process.  It also found that some residents did not feel that they had been accurately informed of predicted light and shadow effects before wind turbines were built.  As a result the report recommended developing national guidance on how light and shadow effects from wind farms should be defined, assessed and communicated throughout the planning process.

This project is an evidence review that will contribute to meeting these recommendations by assessing how light and shadow effects are currently considered and communicated through the planning process in Scotland.

The research findings will be used to provide recommendations on how to improve:

  • the definition of light and shadow effects and impacts;
  • methods for predicting the impact of light and shadow effects on local residents; and
  • the communication of light and shadow effects and impacts with local residents.

The insights from the review may be used to inform future guidance for developers and planning authorities.

The project will be completed in late 2016.

Heat accounts for over half of Scotland’s final energy use, representing significant opportunities and challenges for reducing our greenhous gas emissions.

The Scottish Government’s forthcoming Climate Change Plan will define priorities for investment in energy infrastuture, including heat. Heat will also be a central focus of the Government’s Energy Strategy, while the long-term infrastructure commitment signalled by Scotland’s Energy Efficieny Programme will be key to attracting private investment in the sector.

ClimateXChange and the UK Energy Research Centre hosted a summit in Ediburgh on 15 September 2016, bringing together Scottish policymakers and leading UK researchers on heat transitions. The summit identified priority areas for research, policy and practice to support the decarbonisation of Scotland’s heat supply and demand in the context of emerging Scottish policies.

See the links on this page to view the workshop programme,  presentation slides and a summary of the workshop discussion.

Decentralisation of the energy system appears to hold the promise of a more just energy system – a low carbon system that generates greater local benefits and better serves local needs.  As a result, for local and national government, local energy is often framed as an opportunity to holistically address several pressing policy challenges: reducing carbon emissions, matching energy supply and demand, engaging and empowering communities, tackling fuel poverty, and reviving local economies.

This event brought researchers, policymakers, community energy practitioners, and other private, public and third sector stakeholders together to meet and exchange knowledge on the transition towards local energy systems.

The programme for the day:

  • provided examples of local energy systems in practice from around the UK;
  • examined the evidence that local energy systems are delivering positive economic and social outcomes; and
  • looked at the enabling conditions for local energy systems in the UK.

A report detailing the key outcomes from the event is available to download.

Useful links for more information on local energy projects:

This project looks at the potential impacts of electrifying a proportion of heat demand, and examines specific technology types against a range of criteria. It also developed a user-friendly model for a wider system assessment.

It builds on recent research that identified opportunities from decarbonising the electricity supply, through using low carbon energy source to displace conventional heating and transport fuels, and explores factors which will influence the extent of the potential impact on the whole energy system.

The Scottish Government heat and electricity policy statements highlighted the range of low carbon technologies that can be used to deliver this decarbonisation, whilst also balancing the requirement to deliver secure supplies of energy at an affordable price. The peaks and troughs in heat demand, both within a day and across the seasons, are far greater than the variations in electrical demand, and create a challenge for electricity generating assets which, in the absence of storage, may be under-used for long periods.

Electrification of heating can also place further pressure on the network infrastructure required to deliver the additional power to demand centres. There are potential impacts on the high voltage transmission network, particularly if the background generation is located in different geographical zones within the GB system, but there is likely to be a substantial impact on the distribution network, particularly if electrification is rolled out in localised clusters.

A detailed report of the project outputs is also published here.  If you would like further information please contact Scottish Government directly on Energy_Statistics_Mailbox@gov.scot

This review of Scottish Government activities and international practices presents an overview of government initiatives that relate to energy productivity, and presents case studies of changes in the industrial and commercial sectors.

The findings and conclusions are based on reviews of policies and regulations, interviews with key stakeholders, reviews of energy and economic statistics and reviews of documentation from specific industries and commercial activities. 

The report suggests that while much has been achieved in Scotland in recent years, there is much more that could be done should energy productivity be deemed to be a governance priority. The governance measures and case studies presented throughout point to several distinctive areas of work that would support this aim. 

Energy productivity broadens the framing and thinking associated with longstanding areas of government policy in asking what associated measurable characteristics should and could be accounted for. This would involve rethinking current approaches to energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy saving advice as integrated elements of a broader governance agenda on energy productivity. 

The purpose of this study is to identify any differences in the costs faced by community and commercial renewable energy projects in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has expressed a commitment to support the development of community renewable energy, including a target to establish 500 megawatts of community and locally-owned renewable energy by 2020. Given this aspiration, it is important to understand any cost barriers faced by community projects that are not faced by equivalent commercial projects.

The study compares the costs and cost factors faced throughout the lifecycle of projects under three different ownership categories: commercial, community and commercial-community partnerships.

Key findings:

  • Community and commercial renewable energy sectors have evolved separately to some extent and have therefore faced different cost factors.
  • This has resulted in costs that are more variable, with some facing significantly higher costs than others.
  • Costs have become less variable over time and have decreased over the last decade. The aggregate data showed that there is no statistical difference in the costs of more recently developed community owned projects.
  • While communities spend more in the pre-planning stages, this is not generally reflected in overall costs, pre-planning costs typically make up a minor proportion of total development costs (e.g. 50% of capital costs incurred through technology acquisition.
  • Pre-planning barriers represent both costs and risks that may be addressed through policy measures. It is important to note that communities face a much higher risk of failure during this time.