Scottish Renewables has written to all Scottish MPs to share the report's findings and we are seeking future engagement on the report at Westminster in the coming weeks.

Of course, there's been another significant development in recent days, and you can read more about the change to Ofgem's remit in the Grid & Systems section of the email, below.

Please get in touch if you have any questions. 

Jack Norquoy
Public Affairs Manager
E: jnorquoy@scottishrenewables.com

News release: New home for renewables trade body spells out history of thriving sector 

Last month we celebrated the history of renewable energy in Scotland at the launch of our new office which was officially opened by Gillian Martin MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Energy. 

Our new premises on St Vincent Street is powered entirely by renewable electricity, heated with an air source heat pump and is the oldest building in Glasgow made of red sandstone. 

Meeting rooms and pods have been installed for exclusive member use and are named after Scottish renewable energy firsts while a giant specially commissioned timeline of the industry has been created for the kitchen. 

Wind Energy Week

Wind Energy Week is taking place on June 26 - June 30 and offers a great opportunity to celebrate the success of Scotland’s wind energy industry. 

Scottish Renewables is hosting a photocall with MSPs in the Scottish Parliament on June 29. To promote the benefits of wind energy for skills and jobs, we would like to welcome a small number of apprentices to join the photocall. 

If you would like to be involved or for more information on Wind Energy Week, please contact Jack. 

Meeting with Douglas Ross MSP

Claire and Nick met with Douglas Ross MSP, Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, to provide a wide-ranging update on Scotland’s renewable energy industry. 

The conversation covered jobs and investment numbers, heat, onshore wind, grid and skills.

Get in touch with Nick if you would like to discuss.

Nominations open NOW for the Net-Zero Energy Transition Awards 2023

The Awards recognise individuals, companies and groups in the renewable energy supply chain who are striving to reach Scotland’s climate goals while maximising the positive economic impact coming from the net-zero project pipeline. 

Entries can be submitted via our website before 5pm on June 28.

Scottish Renewables’ Supply Chain Networking Reception

Scottish Renewables’ first Supply Chain Networking Reception took place this month in Dundee. The event celebrated the publication of the 2022/23 Supply Chain Impact Statement, and the supply chain companies who are driving forward Scotland’s clean energy revolution.  

Take a look at some picture highlights from the event.

Out and about

The Energy Transition and Supply Chain team has been out and about at many industry events and meetings this month. Head of Energy Transition and Supply Chain, Emma Harrick, and Supply Chain Officer, Sophie Pacitti, attended RenewableUK’s Green Hydrogen event in Birmingham and exhibited alongside the wider Scottish Renewables team at the All-Energy Conference in Glasgow.

Visit to Autonomous iOt

SR member Autonomous iOt kindly hosted the Energy Transition and Supply Chain team at its facilities this month. The company's innovative platforms harness wind and solar power to provide LED street lighting, smart-city connectivity, emergency alert systems, analytics and more.  

SR Letter: Proposed Flow Country World Heritage Site – seeking policy clarification

SR has submitted a letter to seek clarification of The Highland Council’s current policy towards onshore wind development within the boundaries, or close to the boundaries of the proposed Flow Country World Heritage Site (WHS). In referring to onshore wind we include new wind farm developments, extensions to operating concerns, life extensions and repowering proposals. 

Read SR responses: proposed Flow Country WHS and boundary (July 26, 2022) and draft management plan (September 5, 2022). Read FCP response: consultation summary report (November, 2022).

SR is continuing to proactively engage with members, The Highland Council, The Flow Country Partnership (FCP), and stakeholders relating to the proposed WHS and boundary. 

Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation consultation analysis

The Scottish Government has published an analysis report of responses to the Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation consultation. Read SR’s consultation response on our website. Further updates on the Bill are expected from The Scottish Government in the coming months.

Get in touch with Mark if you would like to discuss this.

Local Development Planning (LDP) Guidance

The Scottish Government has published guidance setting out the Scottish Ministers’ expectations for implementing the system of local development plans (LDPs) – so that they deliver new-style, place-based, people-centred and delivery-focused plans. It brings together requirements from the Act and Regulations on and advice in relation to National Planning Framework 4.

Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal (SOWSD)

For more information, please contact Mark.

Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group (OWSLG)

Claire Mack convened the fourth OWSLG meeting on May 24 with Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, and Gillian Martin MSP, Minister for Energy. The Sector Deal Theme Leads provided a key considerations overview to the Ministers and discussed the latest draft which SR members have helped develop.  

Meeting minutes and Terms of Reference will be available on The Scottish Government website. OWSLG Meeting 5 is scheduled for July 11, 2023.  

Slides: SR Onshore Wind + Planning & Consents Forum

Slides are now available from SR’s latest Onshore Wind + Planning & Consents Forum (May 24) covering the issues that matter to you across our policy and communications work.  

The Forum allowed SR members to hear about the work we have been doing on their behalf and discuss other critical issues for onshore wind, planning and consenting coming over the horizon. Future Forums will be listed on our website.

Please contact Mark if you would like to discuss this.

Whitelee Onshore Wind Farm Visit

Our Supply Chain Officer Sophie and Public Affairs Manager Jack visited Whitelee Wind Farm, the UK’s largest onshore wind farm, as part of a stakeholder visit. 

The ScottishPower Renewables team provided an excellent tour of the impressive facilities, including the UK Control Centre where more than 40 operational sites are managed and monitored. 

Sophie and Jack toured the wind farm on its renewable-powered bus and joined colleagues for a networking session in the visitor centre. 

Media reaction: Seven Scottish based businesses secure a share of £2 million OWGP funding 

The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) announced that 15 UK businesses, seven based in Scotland, have secured a share of £2 million Innovation Grant funding. 

The selected companies will be supported by OWGP on projects that could improve the reliability of offshore wind and help decarbonise its operations. 

Responding, Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “We welcome the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership’s £2 million investment in the UK supply chain and in particular the seven businesses based in Scotland who will benefit from this funding. 

“Scotland’s renewable energy supply chain is playing a vital role in helping us achieve our net-zero ambitions but we need these businesses to grow and diversify rapidly as we build more clean power across Scotland.”

Kincardine Offshore Wind Farm Visit

Some of the SR team were invited by Flotation Energy to visit Kincardine Offshore Wind Farm, the largest floating offshore wind farm in the world. With the most powerful turbines installed on a floating offshore wind platform, Kincardine is capable of powering nearly 35,000 homes in Scotland.

It was a fantastic experience seeing the technology up close in action.

Contracts for Difference Non-Price Factors consultation response 

Scottish Renewables submitted a response to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's (DESNZ) call for evidence on introducing non-price factors to the CfD allocation process. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any points included in our response, please contact Andrew.

Department of Energy Security and Net Zero pumped storage hydro meeting

This month, together with BiGGAR Economics and a group of pumped storage hydro members, SR met with DESNZ officials to present our report on the economic impact of pumped storage hydro. If you would like to know more about the report or our engagement with government regarding PSH, please contact Andrew. 

REMA Markets Participant Forum

SR will be attending the next meeting of the DESNZ REMA Market Participant Forum on July 3. The topic of the meeting is mass low-carbon power and flexibility. Please contact Andrew if you would like to share any views or discuss this in further detail. 

Ofgem remit change

On Tuesday evening we heard Ofgem's remit was to be reformed to include net-zero - something SR has been calling for with increasing urgency over the past three years.

We responded robustly, saying: "For too long Ofgem’s remit has been past its sell-by date. Today’s decision remedies that position and ensures that the energy industry’s regulator is able to recommend more than just short sighted changes to the system."

We also published a blog yesterday setting out (to steal its title) Why Ofgem's remit change is a big, big deal for net-zero. It's an explainer in simple terms, so please share as widely as you can.

We'll continue to engage on this important issue as it develops.

TNUoS Task Force

Scottish Renewables attended the second meeting of the TNUoS Task Force on May 17.  

Members can find all relevant information about the Task Force such as meeting papers, presentations, webinars, and podcasts, on the Charging Futures webpage. 

For further information, please contact Stephen.

Consultation on Frameworks for future systems and network regulation: enabling an energy system for the future

Ofgem's consultation on frameworks for future systems and network regulation: enabling an energy system for the future closed on May 20.  

Ofgem has requested feedback on the approach for determining the overall structure of the network price controls. Scottish Renewables invited input from its members regarding this consultation and has provided a response to Ofgem. You can find our published response on the SR website.

Consultation on Future of local energy institutions and governance

Scottish Renewables has responded to Ofgem's consultation on the Future of local energy institutions and Governance which closed on May 11. 

Ofgem sought input and views on:  

• the proposed future institutional and governance arrangements and the extent to which its proposals are proportionate and targeted to the most pertinent issues.  

• the key design and implementation choices.  

• data respondents may have which will inform the full impact assessment of these reforms. 

Scottish Renewables has published our response on the website.   

If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything about the consultation or our response, please contact Stephen. 

Call for Input on the Future of distributed flexibility

Scottish Renewables has responded to Ofgem's Call for Input on the Future of distributed flexibility that closed on May 11. 

Ofgem has proposed that a common vision for distributed flexibility is needed for the industry to unite behind to reach a flex-centric future. Specifically, it believes that vision is a common digital energy infrastructure. This call for input is strategic in nature and aims to set out a long-term vision for distributed flexibility.  

If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything about the call for input or our response, please get in touch.

ESO Connections Seminar

Scottish Renewables attended National Grid ESO’s connections seminar in Glasgow on May 16.  

Several industry experts attended the event, including representatives from ESO Connections, DESNZ, Ofgem, The Scottish Government, SSEN Transmission, SP Energy Networks, National Grid and SSEN. Their participation contributed to insightful discussions on the challenges and opportunities related to connections.  

During the seminar, ESO announced the latest addition to its '5-point plan' aimed at expediting connection processes. This involves facilitating non-firm connection agreements for energy storage projects, which could speed up the connection process for up to 95GW of energy storage projects in the UK pipeline.  

Connections are a topic of significant interest across the industry and government. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this in more detail, please contact Stephen. 

Ofgem’s ‘Open letter on future reform to the electricity connections process'

On May 16, Ofgem Published its Open letter on future reform to the electricity connections process.

This Open Letter sets out how Ofgem, alongside government and industry, will work to reform the connections process for all parties and ensure it is responsive to customers’ needs and ultimately fit for the net-zero transition.  

It provides some context on the reasons for these delays and explains what is being done in the short-term to mitigate some of the key challenges, as well as setting out its thoughts on the further steps of reform that may be required and the principles that will sit behind this work. Ofgem also set out its plan in the medium term, including how it will work with the government. The closing date for responses is June 16. 

We would welcome views from members on this. Please share any comments with Stephen. 

Building Assessment Reports (BAR) and Heat Network Zones (HNZ)

Building Assessment Reports (BAR) and Heat Network Zones (HNZ) 

Content: On May 30, The Heat Networks (Heat Network Zones and Building Assessment Reports) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 came into force, thus introducing two new public duties: 

1. a duty on local authorities to identify areas particularly suitable for the development of heat networks and to designate the most favourable of these as “heat network zones”. 
2. a duty on the owners of all public-sector non-domestic buildings to complete a building assessment report. 

In support of these, The Scottish Government published the BAR and HNZ templates/proformas and Guidance in order to aid local authorities and relevant building owners to discharge their duties under the above regulations: 

• HNZ proforma and associated guidance 
• BAR templates and associated guidance 

Meanwhile, work continues in implementing further aspects of the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021, with the current focus on heat network consents and permits. We will share more details with members when we receive them.

Get in touch if you would like to discuss this.

Scottish Enterprise hydrogen reports

Scottish Enterprise (SE) recently launched new reports on the potential nature and location of hydrogen users in Scotland, as well as de-centralised production opportunities. 

The reports can be found here, including: 

1. A 2-part study on the potential sectors, quantities and locations of hydrogen demand in the domestic Industry and Transport sectors. 
2. A report on the use of Hydrogen in Scottish Distilleries, in collaboration with HIE and SoSE, exploring techno-economic and regulatory considerations for hydrogen use in distilleries. 
3. A report identifying new supply opportunities in De-centralised Green Hydrogen Production Sites. 
4. An interactive Map of Hydrogen Assets which hopefully helps stakeholders visualise Scotland’s H2 production projects, demand hotspots, and infrastructure like wind, grid, gas networks and ports. 

To explain the findings, SE is delivering webinars along with the consultants who did the studies – Element Energy Ricardo and Ironside Farrar. Follow the links to register: 

• May 30, 2-3PM: Hydrogen for scotch whisky distilleries 
• June 01, 2-3PM: Potential H2 offtake in transport
• June 06, 3-4PM: Potential H2 offtake in industry

If you have any queries or follow-up requests, please contact Irina Bonavino or Michael O’Brien at Scottish Enterprise. 

Consultation on Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 and CfE on price-based competitive allocation for low-carbon hydrogen

DESNZ has recently published two consultations related to low-carbon hydrogen, and SR is considering responding to one or both of these. 

We are seeking input from members on both consultations which will inform our decision on whether to respond. Please provide views or input by Monday, June 12. 

Hydrogen Allocation Round 2: market engagement  

This consultation is seeking views on the proposed design of the second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) that will allocate funding to low-carbon hydrogen projects. The consultation covers the following topics:  

• proposed eligibility and evaluation criteria  
• project requirements 
• proposed delivery approach 
• co-locating with a government-subsidised renewable electricity source 

Price-based competitive allocation for low-carbon hydrogen: call for evidence 

The purpose of this call for evidence is to gather evidence to understand more about:  

• market conditions needed for the UK to transition to price-based competitive allocation for electrolytic projects and potentially other specified non-CCUS (carbon capture, usage and storage) technologies 
• the extent to which a price-based competitive allocation process could incentivise projects to support broader outcomes beyond cost reduction of low-carbon hydrogen production: 
  - harnessing electricity system benefits 
  - economic benefits and supply chain development 
  - security of supply of hydrogen 
• how price-based competitive allocation should be designed 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss either consultation in more detail, please get in touch.