The trade body has outlined its top priorities for the Scottish Government ahead of the upcoming Programme for Government, set to be announced tomorrow, and expressed concern at the lack of critical detail in the draft proposals for achieving a net-zero energy system.

Scottish Renewables welcomed the draft strategy published earlier this year calling it ‘bold, ambitious and potentially transformative’, but is calling for a clear delivery plan to provide much needed certainty for developers and supply chain businesses.

The trade body is also calling on the Scottish Government to ensure the anchor components of net-zero, including our electricity network, ports and heat networks, are consented at pace by a properly resourced planning system, as well as greater cooperation with The UK Government on these issues.

Scotland already has ambitions to deliver a total of 11GW of offshore wind. Onshore, the ambition is for 12GW of new onshore wind by 2030. Industry is also gearing up to deliver increased activity in the marine, solar, low-carbon heat and green hydrogen.

In order to achieve this, Scottish Renewables, which represents more than 330 organisations working in renewable energy, is calling on the Scottish Government to adopt the following eight key priorities for 2023/24.

1. Publish the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan alongside a clear delivery plan with targets and milestones to ensure Scotland reaps the maximum possible benefit from the transition to a net-zero energy system.
2. Build on the remarkable step forward made with the publication of National Planning Framework 4 by producing a Net-Zero Anchor Plan to ensure that the ‘anchor components’ of net-zero – including the electricity network, ports and heat networks – can be consented at pace, and that the capacity to do so is established.
3. Maximise the economic benefits of renewable energy projects by delivering crucial financial support for Scottish ports which are the lynchpin for our offshore renewable ambitions.
4. Address a key element of the Climate Change Committee’s concerns about Scotland’s emissions reduction pathway by producing clear indicators for deployment of energy efficiency measures, heat pumps and low-carbon district heating across residential and non-residential buildings.
5. Deliver a Hydrogen Strategic Infrastructure Plan outlining the development and delivery pathways to fully unlock Scotland’s enormous green hydrogen production and export potential.
6. Work with industry to ensure the Onshore Wind Sector Deal is a success.
7. Ensure the Marine Directorate is properly resourced to consent ScotWind projects.
8. Fully commit to coordinate agreements with the UK Government over the unprecedented scale of net-zero infrastructure and in the full spirit required to tackle the climate emergency.

Claire Mack, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “If we are to realise the vast opportunities of projects like ScotWind, as well as ensuring a just transition for our clean energy suppliers, it is essential that a delivery plan for Scotland’s Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan is made clear immediately.

“We welcomed the draft strategy as a key piece of the net-zero puzzle when it was announced earlier this year but time is running out. Without proper direction we risk losing out on the major benefits and investment that a bold, ambitious and transformative energy strategy would bring.

“The renewable energy industry has eight key priorities that need to be at the forefront of Scotland’s upcoming Programme for Government. Our priorities are focused on continuing to grow the renewable energy industry, while driving fresh investment in Scotland’s communities and building a wellbeing economy which protects our environment and delivers prosperity for current and future generations.

“It is time for The Scottish Government to step up and provide clear direction to the renewables industry on how it plans to deliver Scotland’s net-zero ambitions.”

First Minister Humza Yousaf has said plans to reduce poverty, deliver economic growth, tackle climate change and provide high quality public services will be central to his first Programme for Government.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Yousaf will outline how his government will make key anti-poverty and pro-growth investments to help deliver three national missions – equality, opportunity and community – that collectively will help build a better, greener and more prosperous Scotland.

The 2023-24 Programme for Government will detail how the Scottish Government will build upon key partnerships – including the Verity House agreement with local authorities and the New Deal for Business – to deliver a wellbeing economy that boosts economic growth to provide high-quality public services, and has well-paid and fair jobs at its heart.

Speaking ahead of delivering his first Programme for Government, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “It is the honour of my life to serve Scotland as First Minister. I am determined to make Scotland a country where people, communities and businesses can reach their full potential, creating a better future for everyone.

“This is my first Programme for Government, and in the days ahead I will outline the ambitious plans my government has for the people of Scotland – plans which are focused on reducing poverty, delivering growth, helping to tackle climate change and providing high quality public services.

“These are the areas that matter most to people, communities and businesses across the country. We are in a cost of living crisis that is impacting the most vulnerable in our society the most - communities which have been suffering at the hands of UK Government cuts for too long.

“The government I lead will continue to focus on protecting our public services and improving the support we provide to help build a stronger economy and a fairer society. That ambition is the only way we can deliver real, positive change for people right across the country.”

The First Minister added: “The challenges we face – including the cost of living crisis, the impacts of the UK Government’s hard Brexit, and pandemic recovery – are significant, but we have strong foundations that we can build upon, to grasp opportunities and deliver real change.

“During these challenging times, the people of Scotland need a government that is on their side. In the coming days we will outline our measures to support businesses and communities to unleash potential and promote entrepreneurship - helping provide well-paid jobs right across Scotland, and boosting national and local economies.

“Our focus on boosting economic growth will enable us to invest more in anti-poverty measures and support our vital public services, protecting the most vulnerable in society and raising the standard of living for everyone.”