Chamber and committees

The 40% target is based upona number of factors - the current level ofrenewables generation (mainly large hydro), Scotland’s potential renewable resource(equal to around ten times our peak demand) and the ability within that to developa wide range of different technologies (for example wind, wave, hydro and biomass).The target was agreed following a consultation with the industry, academia and other expert stakeholders. Respondents agreed that 40% was a sufficiently challengingaspiration. 

There are no subsidiary targets.We are working through the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS)to ensure that marine, biomass and other renewable technologies play important rolesin providing a diverse supply portfolio.

I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-8312 on 25 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The regulation of the electricitysector, including the security of electricity supply, is a reserved matter. the Scottish Executive will work with the JESS group to examine how Scottishelectricity supply and demand data could appropriately be published or incorporatedinto the next JESS report.

We have recently commissioneda study, being carried out by the University of Edinburgh in conjunction with the Scottish grid owners, which will enable an understanding of the full implicationsto the electricity network of the growth in, primarily intermittent, renewable generationand how this might be managed in order to maintain a secure and stable power systemwith sufficient reserve margins across Scotland. This study is due to be completedin March 2005.

None. Under the duty of carerules, local authorities are required to ensure that waste fridges under their controlare subject to treatment to capture the ozone-depleting gasses for safe disposalor recovery.

The Executive is working withthe UK Government to tackle emissions of fluorinated gases. Existing measures havefocussed mainly on reducing emissions through recovery and containment, rather thanminimising use. These measures are outlined in the partial Regulatory Impact Assessmentthat accompanied the recent UK consultation on an European Commission proposal for a new EC regulation to reduce emissions of certain fluorinated gases. Theproposal, which is currently being considered by EU member states and the EuropeanParliament, includes provisions on the containment, reporting and marketing anduse of fluorinated gases.The consultation document and partial RegulatoryImpact Assessment are available on the Executive’s climate change website at www.scotland.gov.uk/climatechange.(Further information is available on the Department of Trade and Industry’s websiteat www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability/fgases.htm.)

There is currently no financialsupport available.

There are currently 43 activeaccess panels operating over 27 of the 32 local authority areas. Those areas whichdo not have access panels at the moment are East Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde,North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire.

I welcome the success of a Scottishrenewables company in winning a contract to provide a demonstrator project in Portugal, basedon technology which was developed and is currently being trialled in Scotland. Thisis an example of how far ahead Scotland is in developing wave energy technology.