Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government response was announced to the Parliament on 13 September 2012 .The details are available on the Scottish Government website.

Planning permission is required for constructing hill tracks, including all tracks accessed by the public. At present certain private enterprises - such as agricultural and forestry operations - have permitted development rights, which enable hill tracks to be constructed without the need to apply for a formal grant of planning permission.

It is for planning authorities to determine whether or not a particular track is in breach of planning control and to take enforcement action if they consider it necessary.

Specific permitted development rights apply only to the construction of agricultural or forestry tracks which meet the criteria set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992; there are no specific permitted development rights for the construction of tracks used for other purposes.

The Scottish Government is considering proposals to restrict the current permitted development rights in relation to agricultural and forestry tracks. Responses to public consultation on these, and other, proposed amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 have now been analysed and we are considering how to proceed in this matter.

The analysis is published on the Scottish Government website and can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/3943. A summary of the key findings is also available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/2886/0.

Any inappropriately located development can potentially have an impact on the environment.

The Scottish Government is considering whether to amend permitted development rights for agricultural or forestry tracks. An analysis of responses to a public consultation on proposed amendments to permitted development rights has been published and the Scottish Government is considering options for change.

The analysis is published on the Scottish Government website and can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/3943. A summary of the key findings is also available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/2886/0.

Over the last two years, the number of businesses based in Scotland registered to install solar water heating under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme has increased from 46 in January 2010 to 112 as of July 2012. A further 187 UK companies operate in Scotland.

This demonstrates the growth in the market and the Scottish Government’s is supporting continued development, as set out in the Microgeneration Strategy for Scotland published on 22 June 2012. Alongside the Strategy, we announced an increase of £5 million in our Home Renewables Loans scheme targetted at renewable heat, with an increase in the loans available for heat technologies, such as solar water heating, to £10,000. Loans are also available to small and medium sized business to help them with the capital costs of technologies such as solar water heating.

The most appropriate and cost effective way of reducing emissions from buildings depends on a number of factors, as set out in our planning and building standards systems. Scottish Planning Policy (paragraph 44) places energy generation within a holistic framework and states “The use of energy efficient, microgenerating and decentralised renewable energy systems will be components in the move towards reducing emissions, but energy efficient design of buildings will make a significant contribution to reducing emissions. Location, siting, orientation, design, materials and insulation are important factors in the energy efficiency of buildings.”

The Scottish Government has also set challenging minimum levels for carbon dioxide and energy performance in Scottish building regulations for new buildings. The approach emphasises the importance of improving the building fabric as well as considering low and zero carbon generating technologies to achieve the standards in the most appropriate and cost effective manner possible. Although the use of such technologies is not a requirement, current emissions targets for new building mean that such technologies are becoming more common. We consider that this approach is the best way to support growth of the market for technologies such as solar water heating, ensuring solutions are best designed to meet individual consumer’s needs.

The Scottish Government has not assessed the potential benefits to manufacturers of solar water heating of increased demand at these rates. The Scottish Government supports continued growth of the market for solar water heating and welcomes the development of manufacturing base in Scotland, with AES Solar in Forres and Sustainable Technologies in Nairn. A total of 22 manufacturers of solar hot water systems are registered in the UK under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and more across Europe under Solar Keymark. We recognise that development of the market both in Scotland and globally will benefit manufacturers and will continue to work with industry as we take forward the recommendations from the Microgeneration Strategy for Scotland to ensure that we maximise the benefits to Scottish businesses and consumers.

Our Small Business Loan Scheme, managed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), provides loans to businesses to install energy efficiency and renewables measures. Since the scheme was introduced in late 2008, 26 loans totalling £256,311 have been paid for solar water heating in business premises.

The Scottish Government also sponsors EST to deliver the Small Business Advice service in Scotland, providing advice and recommendations on energy efficiency and renewables measures. A total of 4,347 businesses have received advice since 2006-07 and the most recent evaluation indicates growing interest in renewables, with two thirds of businesses advised by EST receiving recommendations on renewables in 2010-11, up from 38% in 2008-09.

The Scottish Government supports standards for microgeneration technologies, including solar hot water systems. There are many benefits to standardisation, and solar hot water systems must be registered under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme or Solar Keymark to be eligible for funding through Scottish Government and UK Government schemes. In order to be certified under these schemes they must meet European Standards for solar collectors.

http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/

http://www.solarkeymark.org/

We are not aware of analysis undertaken on the specific impact of standardisation on consumer costs, as costs are affected by a range of factors. Standardisation has the potential to contribute to reduced costs by increasing consumer confidence, growing the market and hence lowering costs through economies of scale. Certification also ensures that consumers can be confident that their equipment will meet minimum standards for efficiency. However, standards may also increase costs in order for manufacturers to meet the requirements of the standards.

In addition, wider market forces may well have a bigger impact on costs, for example the global cost of copper has risen over the past few years which impacts on the costs of solar hot water systems. Delays to the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive have also constrained demand for heat technologies, but once introduced this is likely to have a bigger impact on market growth than standards alone.