Renewable heat target and action: 2020 update

Progress towards the renewable heat target

In 2019, an estimated 2.03 GW of renewable heat capacity was operational in Scotland, producing an estimated 5,205 GWh of useful renewable heat. This represents a 1% increase in renewable heat capacity and a 5% increase in useful heat generated from renewable sources compared with the 2018 figures. This shows an upward trajectory in the use of renewable heat in Scotland.

In 2019, useful renewable heat produced in Scotland was equivalent to 6.5% of fuels (other than electricity) consumed for heat.This is an increase from 6.2% in 2018.^[2]

As in 2018, the majority of this heat came from biomass (both heat-only combustion and combined heat and power), contributing 71% of output. The next largest contribution was biomethane at 14%. Biomethane also saw the largest growth, contributing 147 GWh of the total 2018-19 growth in output of 239 GWh.

Whilst biomass and biomethane dominate renewable heat generation, there has been a steady growth in heat produced by heat pumps. The majority of the year-on-year increase from 345 to 408 GWh useful renewable heat produced by heat pumps was due to new small units supplying heat to dwellings and small commercial buildings. There were 2,470 new heat pump installations in Scotland in 2019, bringing the total number to 17,140.

Progress towards the 11% target also depends on changes in non-electrical heat demand (whether renewable or not); if, for example, renewable heat output remains constant but heat demand increases, progress towards the 11% target would decrease. Between 2008 and 2015 heat demand fell due to increased energy efficiency and increases in average annual temperatures. Heat demand has, however, increased in 2016 and 2017, before dropping in 2018 to similar levels seen in 2014.^[3] This emphasises the continued importance of energy efficiency and minimising heat demand where possible.

This data is drawn from the Renewable Heat in Scotland 2019 report, published by the Energy Saving Trust on 28 October 2020, which provides further detail.