Question reference: S5W-26395
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 14 November 2019 Registered interest
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Current status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 November 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on piloting the use of thermal storage and electric batteries in (a) homes and (b) businesses to help reduce fuel bills.
Answer
The Scottish Government already supports the uptake of thermal and electric battery storage to help reduce fuel costs for consumers and businesses, including large scale demonstration projects such as deployment of heat batteries alongside solar photo voltaic panels in partnership with Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association in the Lothians. It is important that any storage technology provides value for money, taking into account the upfront costs and lifetime savings offered in a variety of applications.
Scottish Government loan schemes provide interest free loans to households and low interest loans for small and medium sized businesses for the installation of battery storage equipment. In addition, our Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme and Local Energy Challenge Fund have awarded over £5 million to demonstrate the use of innovative battery and heat storage technologies in social housing.