If you think we have missed an important acronym, please let us know by completing this form and we will add it to the list. 

Nick Sharpe
Director of Communications and Strategy
E: nsharpe@scottishrenewables.com

New Voices Campaign

The campaign will equip some of the best and brightest people in our industry, who often lack the confidence to stand up in front of their colleagues, with the skills they need to make their voices heard. 

We are looking for eight individuals from diverse backgrounds to take part in a series of workshops that will help them to be more confident and communicate more effectively in their professional lives. 

Find out more about why we have launched New Voices in this blog. 

Nominations can be submitted via our website until 5pm on August 9.

Media Reaction: Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics 2021

The Scottish Government announced on June 20 that the latest Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics which highlighted that the interim target for 2021 has not been met. 

Responding, Morag Watson, Director of Policy at Scottish Renewables, said: “Today’s announcement is another wake up call for The Scottish Government. 

“We are in a climate emergency but the pace of decision making and action is falling short of what is needed. Time is running out for the government to put in place a proper plan for how we accelerate our nation’s ambitions for transitioning to net-zero.” 

Morag appeared on STV's Scotland Tonight for a studio discussion on the missed targets and was also featured on STV news. 

Ministerial Engagement

Last month Chief Executive Claire Mack and Public Affairs Manager Jack Norquoy met with Màiri McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net-Zero and Just Transition, and Gillian Martin MSP, Minister for Energy and the Environment. 

Discussions centred on industry priorities for The Scottish Government’s Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, including planning and consenting timescales, grid and network upgrades, decarbonisation of heat and opportunities for green hydrogen.  

Scottish Parliamentary Reception

Wind Energy Week 2023

Scottish Renewables celebrated Wind Energy Week 2023 on June 26 – 30.  

As part of this, we held a photocall at the Scottish Parliament and were joined by Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, cross-party MSPs and young professionals from EDF Renewables, ScottishPower Renewables, SSE Renewables and Statkraft. 

Thank you to those who supported #WEW23 on social media and engaged with Scottish Renewables’ activity.

If you have any feedback on Wind Energy Week, please get in touch with Jack. 

Labour Party Energy Mission Launch 

Claire and Jack were invited to the launch of The Labour Party’s green energy mission at Nova Innovation in Leith this month. 

The launch was attended by Sir Keir Starmer MP, Leader of the Labour Party; Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer; Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero and Anas Sarwar MSP, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party. 

Blog: An electrifying journey

Out and About

We recently launched our new “Out and About” email to keep members updated with the events we are attending and provide an insight into what is coming up in our calendars. 

Media Reaction: Energy Profits Levy to remain for next five years

The UK Government announced that the Energy Profits Levy, which puts a marginal tax rate of 75% on North Sea oil and gas production, will remain in place for the next five years while oil and gas prices remain higher than historic norms – but this will fall back to 40% when prices consistently return to normal levels for a sustained period. 

Responding, Andrew MacNish Porter, Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “By continuing to provide investment allowances to oil and gas extraction the Energy Profits Levy continues to undermine the UK’s reputation as a leader in renewable energy. 

“Meanwhile, the windfall tax on renewable energy generators has no such investment allowance and is therefore tempering the enthusiasm of international investors looking to the UK Government to provide a stable policy environment that encourages investment in clean power.” 

Ofgem Locational Pricing Assessment

In June FTI Consulting presented the final modelling results of its assessment of locational pricing in GB that it has been commissioned to perform by Ofgem. Ofgem is expected to formally publish the findings later this summer.

This is a programme that SR is following closely. If you would like to share your views or discuss SR’s work in this area, please contact Andrew. 

Capacity Market 2023 consultation government response

On June 12 the UK Government published its response to the consultation which ran earlier this year and considered proposals to better align the Capacity Market (CM) with net-zero and improve security of supply.  

The government intends to carry forward proposals in two phases. Phase 1 proposals, such as reforming the way Connection Capacity is determined and removing barriers for mothballed plants to participate in auctions, are intended to be implemented before the 2024 CM auctions. Phase 2 proposals will be considered further before the government decides on whether to proceed with implementation. 

One of the key reforms which we advocated for in our response was that the CM be reformed to allow assets with long build times, such as pumped storage hydro, to participate in CM auctions. Unfortunately, the government response does not indicate a change from its existing intention not to implement such reforms. However, the government commits to considering further how assets with long build times could be allowed to participate and indicates that further consultation is expected in due course. 

SR’s response to this consultation can be viewed on our website.

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

Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce – Workstream 3

Head of Energy Transition and Supply Chain, Emma Harrick, joined the first Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce (FLOW TF) Workstream 3 meeting this month.  

The FLOW TF objective is to ensure that the UK fully capitalises on the immense potential of the emerging FLOW industry by securing a significant share of the global market, not just domestically but also by exporting technology and expertise worldwide. Workstream 3, which Emma is a member of, will focus on strategies and recommendations to grow the UK FLOW supply chain, carving out a distinctive position and creating possible export opportunities in the UK. 

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – supply chain research

The UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is currently exploring future renewable energy supply chain risks and constraints across the UK and Europe. Baringa Partners LLP has been engaged by DESNZ to complete this research and Emma recently took part in their information-gathering interviews. Emma shared industry views that whilst there is huge opportunity for Scottish businesses in renewable energy, we need meaningful investment in the Scottish supply chain to ensure we meet our net-zero targets.

If you would like to discuss this, please contact Emma.

Engaging through events

The Energy Transition and Supply Chain team has been out and about at many industry events and meetings this month.

Emma and Supply Chain Officer Sophie Pacitti exhibited at RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind conference in London. Emma also attended NOF’s Supply Chain Conference in Glasgow while Sophie travelled to Aberdeen to ETZ’s masterclass on the demystification of the energy transition.

Update: Onshore wind developments in the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array Consultation Zone

SR is continuing to work proactively with members, the Eskdalemuir Working Group (EWG), Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal Theme Leads and The Scottish Government to address the issues around the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array.  
 
The reformed Eskdalemuir Working Group (EWG) met for the first time on April 18 (see meeting minutes). The focus of this meeting was to discuss the updated Terms of Reference and Scope of Work that EWG will be progressing throughout 2023.  
 
The key task of the EWG going forward will be to develop an approach to managing the seismic impact of wind farms within the 50km consultation zone surrounding Eskdalemuir. The intention is that this approach will be developed by the end of 2023 and will be put out for public consultation in early 2024. 

The Scottish Government has proposed two key approaches: 

• Establishing a Seismic Impact Limit (SIL) for Eskdalemuir Seismic Array and the consultation zone  
• This would apply to all undetermined applications within the 50km consultation zone. 
• A 15km exclusion zone around the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array  
• This would only apply to new applications within the consultation zone. It would not apply retrospectively. 

The next meeting of SR's Planning Policy Working Group (July 2023) will include a discussion on how industry should respond to The Scottish Government's invitation to propose the level of the SIL. Further, SR and The Scottish Government are liaising with the Technical Barriers Lead and the Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group to ensure the above is reflected in the Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal.

For all enquiries related to the EWG, please get in touch with Mark.

Windfarm Development on Peat – expert advisory group

SR attended the first meeting of The Scottish Government convened Windfarm Development on Peat group; a commitment made in the Onshore Wind Policy Statement.  

The purpose of this group is to support The Scottish Government by providing expert advice and intelligence on matters relating to the impact of onshore wind development on peat and identifying opportunities to ensure onshore wind development is consistent with NPF4, Scottish Government’s climate targets and the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and other relevant strategies and plans.  

The group will meet every two months and will have a lifespan of 24 months. Alongside the expert group, work is underway to review and, if necessary, update or replace the carbon calculator. SR will continue to engage and represent on behalf of members. 

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

Planning Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group

SR has accepted the Chief Planner's invitation to join the reference group of the Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group (PIPAG). PIPAG will comprise two groups, a core group and a reference group. The first meeting of the core group took place on June 14.

Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal (SOWSD) and Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group (OWSLG) 

Meeting minutes from OWSLG Meeting 4 have been published. 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 and the Environment. 

As recorded in the minutes, it was discussed that the drafting of the Sector Deal is not a closed-door process and that all industry players (beyond SR’s G12 + Supply Chain 5 Group) are welcome to join, feedback and input to the process and ultimately sign up to the final agreed Sector Deal in due course. OWSLG 5 is scheduled for July 11. 

An overview of the Sector Deal Themes and Considerations is available on our website.

Please contact Mark if you would like to discuss this.

Repowering Onshore Wind Seminar

Scottish Renewables’ sold-out Repowering Onshore Wind Seminar saw leading experts share key insights into the business development opportunities presented by decommissioning, life extension and repowering and how Scotland can use first-mover advantage to secure a position as a global centre of expertise. Read the Repowering Onshore Wind Briefing on our website. 

Scottish Government Marine & Offshore Wind Directorates

Over the last few months, a new Offshore Wind Directorate has been established within the Scottish Government, headed by Michelle Quinn as Director of Offshore Wind.

This new Directorate brings together the government roles focused on delivering ScotWind and our wider offshore ambitions which previously sat in several Directorates.  A number of staff and roles that previously sat in Marine Scotland have now moved to Offshore Wind.

Marine Scotland has also been renamed as the Marine Directorate to follow the naming convention used by other Directorates across The Scottish Government. This is to help avoid the confusion that arose when the previous name led stakeholders to assume they were a separate agency.  

The Scottish Government are asking that stakeholders refer to them as the Marine Directorate of The Scottish Government (or Marine Directorate) and no longer use Marine Scotland or the MS logo.

The Marine Directorate work is divided into five Portfolios: 

• Corporate, Strategy and Marine Planning Portfolio – Deputy Director (DD) Rebecca Hackett 
• Marine Environment (Climate and Biodiversity) Portfolio – DD Caroline (Caro) Cowan 
• Marine Economy and Communities Portfolio – DD Malcolm Pentland 
• Science, Evidence, Data and Digital Portfolio – DD Diarmuid Ó Néill 
• Operational Delivery Portfolio – DD Iain Wallace 

An organogram for the Marine Directorate is still being developed and once it becomes available, we will share it with members. 

SR/SOWEC Barriers to Deployment - Coexistence Working Sub-Group

The SR/SOWEC Barriers to Deployment - Coexistence Working Sub-Group (SR/SOWEC B2D-C Group) meeting scheduled for June 28 has been rescheduled to August 16 due to key stakeholder not being available for the June meeting.

Any member with expertise in coexistence between the offshore wind industry and the fishing industry that wishes to join the group should contact Mark.

SR/SOWEC Barriers to Deployment - Enabling Working Sub-Group

The SR/SOWEC Barriers to Deployment - Enabling Working Sub-Group (SR/SOWEC B2D-E Group) met on June 29. Issues discussed included SOWEC Environmental Mitigation & Nature Inclusive Design Collaborative Project, the HND and the National Marine Plan Iterative Plan Review. 

Colleagues from The Scottish Government, Crown Estate Scotland and NatureScot attended the second half of the meeting to provide updates on the Cumulative Framework letter response, HRA Compensatory Measures Framework and the Future Rights letter.

Scottish Government Heat Networks (Scotland) workshop 

On June 20, Scottish Renewables attended The Scottish Government's Heat Networks (Scotland) Workshop to discuss permitting. 

The objectives of the workshop was to explore and understand:

• the industry’s expectations and need for permitting
• the advantages and disadvantages of permitting
• the risks and concerns of permitting for SME’s v’s larger organisations

For further information, please contact Morag. 

Media reaction: ESO to cut connection times ‘by up to 10 years’

Responding to National Grid ESO’s announcement on urgent action it's taking to speed up electricity grid connections by up to 10 years, Stephen McKellar, Senior Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “The speed at which renewable energy generation projects can connect to the electricity network is one of the key barriers to net-zero, so anything which helps expedite that process is welcome”. 

Holistic Network Design (HND) - HND Follow Up Exercise (HNDFUE)

Scottish Renewables attended an NGESO meeting on the HNDFUE Final Strategic Options Appraisal (FSOA) process overview and HND1 transmission infrastructure delivery on June 13. We also attended an HNDFUE Final Strategic Options Assessment update webinar on June 28.  

Although the discussions were confidential, if you have any concerns regarding the HND, please contact Stephen. 

Consultation on community benefits for electricity transmission networks infrastructure

Scottish Renewables responded to the UK government's consultation on community benefits for electricity transmission networks infrastructure on June 15. 

The UK Government consulted on a recommended approach to community benefits for electricity transmission network infrastructure. The consultation is proposing to create voluntary guidance for industry and communities when developing individual community benefit packages. This guidance will cover how to deliver direct benefits payments to eligible individuals and wider community benefits. It is also recommending the establishment of a recommended level of funding for community benefits in agreement with Ofgem. 

Scottish Renewables has welcomed the proposed guidance and agree it is right to recognise the contribution made to net-zero by the communities that host transmission infrastructure. 

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.  

The Open Letter set 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.  

Scottish Renewables participated in Ofgem's Future Reform of the Electricity Connections Process webinar on June 14. This webinar provided an excellent opportunity to continue the discussion and delve deeper into Ofgem's suggestions for implementing reforms. 

Scottish Renewables has published our response to the Open Letter on our website.

If you would like to discuss this, please contact Stephen. 

Connections reform

ESO recognise the challenges currently facing its connections customers and the need to update the connections application process. As a result, it has launched the Connections Reform project to address these challenges and put its customers and stakeholders at the heart of this change. 

On June 15, Scottish Renewables participated in the ESO Connections Reform Design seminar held in Glasgow. During the seminar, the ESO elaborated on the connections reform, including the design phase of the consultation, stakeholder feedback, and recommendations for reform. 

Connections are a topic of significant interest across the industry and government. Scottish Renewables will be responding to the consultation and will be actively engaging with our members on this in the upcoming weeks. 

Grid & Systems Working Group 

Scottish Renewables hosted the quarterly meeting of our Grid and Systems Working Group on June 8.   

The topics of discussion included:  

• Recent Ofgem Consultations
  - Frameworks for future systems and network regulation: enabling an energy system for the future
  - Call for Input: The Future of Distributed Flexibility
  - Consultation on the future of local energy institutions and governance
  - ‘Open letter on future reform to the electricity connections process’ 
• Connections Reform
  - CMP376: Queue Management
  - Connections Queue 
• HND/HNDFUE, Anticipatory Investment (AI), and the TNUOS Task Force. 

For further information, please contact Stephen. 

TNUoS Task Force 

Scottish Renewables attended a meeting of the TNUoS Task Force on June 26.  

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

Scottish Renewables will actively engage with members on this in the upcoming weeks. 

Ofgem Local Governance Working Groups 

Scottish Renewables attended Ofgems Local Governance Working Group on Planning: The function of the RSP, on June 13 and the Local Governance Working Group on Markets and Operations on June 21. 

These working groups are in relation to Ofgem's consultation on the Future of Local Energy Institutions and Governance which we responded to in May. 

The working groups are intended to explore elements of the option development in detail and help to build the evidence base to inform Ofgem's decision. As such, they will run for multiple sessions over the next few months.  

For further information, please contact Stephen. 

Hydrogen Allocation Round 2: market engagement consultation

Scottish Renewables has submitted a response to the DESNZ consultation on the Hydrogen Allocation Round 2: market engagement consultation which closed on June 30.