Peatland Expert Advisory Group minutes: October 2023

Attendees and apologies

• Donald Henderson, Co-chair, Scottish Government
• Ragne Low, Co-chair, Scottish Government
• Andy Gillan, RJ Mcleod
• Andy Mills, Terrain
• Claire Campbell, SEPA
• Jo Smith, University of Aberdeen
• Mark Mulqueeney, SSE Renewables
• Matthew Williams, SG Chief Scientific Advisor Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
• Michael Kordas, Heads of Planning Scotland
• Morag Watson, Scottish Renewables
• Robbie Kernahan, Nature Scot
• Rosie Simpson, John Muir Trust
• Roxanne Anderson, University of the Highlands and Islands
• Onshore Electricity Policy, Scottish Government 
• Peatland Policy, Scottish Government
• Energy Consents Unit, Scottish Government
• PARD: Environment and Net Zero, Scottish Government
• RESAS, Scottish Government

Apologies

• National Farmers Union, Scotland 

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

The Scottish Government (SG) co-Chairs welcomed attendees joining in person at South Kyle Wind Farm and remotely via Teams, and invited new PEAG members Rosie Simpson and Mark Mulqueeney to introduce themselves. 

Updates on Onshore Wind Sector Deal and CXC Carbon Calculator research

Ragne Low (RL), SG co-chair, provided updates on the recently signed Onshore Wind Sector Deal (OnWSD) and the relevant key commitments for PEAG, which  included the central data repository and the NatureScot guidance. RL also updated the group on the ongoing CXC research to review the Carbon Calculator. 

Discussion on NatureScot’s guidance ‘Advising on peatland, carbon rich soils and priority peatland habitats in development management’ 

PEAG members discussed the recently published NatureScot peatland development guidance and Scottish Renewables highlighted some areas of concern for further discussion.
Scottish Renewables agreed to share its review of the guidance with PEAG members to inform discussion at a future PEAG meeting.

Discussion on topics for future meetings

The SG co-Chairs highlighted the need for trust between PEAG members and the Scottish Government and suggested that each future meeting include a central discussion on pre-agreed topics. Suggested topics included SEPA and Scottish Renewables’s 2012 Guidance on the assessment of peat volumes;  the Carbon Calculator; and development of a Scottish planning biodiversity metric and its application to inform windfarm development on peatland.
PEAG members discussed the prospect of a cross-sectoral conference. 

Discussion on overall aim and output of PEAG

PEAG members discussed the Terms of Reference and group’s key deliverables during the remaining 18 months of the agreed term, including a final report that may collate and build upon all existing guidance documents for peatland development. 

Any other business

The SG co-Chairs thanked PEAG members for their attendance and continued commitment to the group.