Renewable heat target and action: 2020 update

Scotland's Energy Strategy

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires Scottish Ministers to report annually on progress towards meeting the target for useful renewable heat generated in Scotland to reach by 2020 the equivalent of 11% of fuels (other than electricity) consumed for heat. This complements the energy efficiency target to reduce the total final energy consumption in Scotland by 12% (against a baseline of the average energy consumption in 2005-07) and contributes to the delivery of our world-leading statutory targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.^[1]

This report fulfils the requirement in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to report on the Renewable Heat Action Plan.

Scotland's Energy Strategy, published in December 2017, set out the Scottish Government's vision for a flourishing, competitive energy sector, delivering secure, affordable, clean energy for Scotland's households, communities and businesses.

The vision is guided by three core principles:

• A whole-system view – broadening the focus of the Scottish Government's energy policy to include heat and transport, alongside electricity and energy efficiency – creating an integrated approach which recognises the effect that each element of the energy system has on the others.
• An inclusive energy transition – recognising that the transition to a low carbon economy over the coming decades must happen in a way that tackles inequality and poverty, and promotes a fair and inclusive jobs market.
• A smarter local energy model – enabling a smarter, more coordinated, approach to planning and meeting distinct local energy needs that will link with developments at the national scale.

The Energy Strategy set the target for the equivalent of 50% of the energy for Scotland's heat, transport and electricity consumption to be supplied from renewable sources by 2030. Latest figures from 2018 show that we are currently providing 21.3% of total energy through renewable sources.

Delivery of the Strategy is monitored via our Annual Energy Statement (2020 edition forthcoming) alongside the Annual Compendium of Scottish Energy Statistics (ACSES).