Chamber and committees

Our Climate Challenge Fund has provided support for communities wishing to take action to reduce their carbon emissions, including funding for feasibility studies such as this. Unfortunately the funding for the 2008-11 Climate Challenge Fund has all been allocated.

Although we have no plans for direct funding into electric vehicle feasibility studies my officials can provide information on opportunities for access to other sources of funding.

The UK-wide Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant Programme is seeking further bids by 30 July 2010, and a bid from an island community might be welcomed. This programme can provide 50% of the cost of electric recharging points, and might provide a way of taking forward a pilot scheme in Orkney.

We set out our intention to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles in our Climate Change Delivery Plan, published in June 2009. This includes the Transformational Outcome of almost complete decarbonisation of road transport by 2050, with significant progress by 2030, through wholesale adoption of electric cars and vans. This is essential if we are to meet the statutory emission reduction targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The delivery plan also highlights that an electric charging infrastructure to support the use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles across Scotland will need to be planned and developed.

Our forward proposals will take account of our analysis of the responses to our consultation on low carbon vehicles, published in March 2010. In addition, while many of the policy levers to reduce transport emissions rest with the EU and UK Government, we will also use the devolved powers at our disposal to support the adoption of electric cars and other low carbon vehicles.

Yes. The Scottish Government recognises that the early market for electric vehicles needs to be supported with the necessary infrastructure, and my officials are bringing this opportunity to the attention of Scottish consortia that might wish to bid.

We set out our intention to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles in our Climate Change Delivery Plan, published in June 2009. The delivery plan also recognises that electric vehicle charging infrastructure will need to be planned and developed to support the Transformational Outcome of almost complete decarbonisation of road transport by 2050.

We are working with the Department for Transport''s Office for Low Emission Vehicles to ensure that Scotland benefits from the support that they are offering, and we are currently considering whether additional Scottish-specific support is required.

Our consultation on low carbon vehicles sought views on how the uptake of low carbon vehicles could best be accelerated, and the analysis of responses was published in March 2010.

Details of committed awards under the Rural Priorities scheme are published on the Scottish Government website. Over £260 million has been committed to date with the seventh approval round commencing this month.

As things stand, we expect to pay a further £4.8 million during 2010-11 in support of the remaining WATES projects.

We will also be transferring to Scottish Enterprise the funds which will deliver our £12 million Wave and Tidal Energy: Research, Development and Demonstration Support fund (WATERS). Grants from this fund in response to the current call for applications will be announced by the end of June.

The first research and development grants to marine projects and developers were awarded in February 2007, under the Wave and Tidal Energy Scheme (WATES). Payments under the scheme have been as follows (based on financial years):

2007-08:	£1,204,355
2008-09:	£573,752
2009-10:	£888,462
Total:	£2,666,569

 

In addition to this, the Scottish Government has also released over £2.5 million during the last two years to help develop the infrastructure needed to accommodate WATES projects located at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

The WATERS fund will comprise £10 million in new funding, plus a further £1.8 million representing funds which were originally allocated to AWS Ocean Energy Ltd prior to being withdrawn last year.

Scottish Enterprise will lead on the management and administration of the WATERS fund, working closely with the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The eligibility criteria under WATERS are broadly similar to those which applied under WATES. The key difference with respect to projects is that there is no requirement to locate at EMEC, or to connect directly to the relevant local distribution network. Meanwhile, WATERS has also ruled out from its current call applications for collaborative projects, as these have the option to respond to a separate call from the Technology Strategy Board.

While capital intervention under WATES was capped at 40%, WATERS will be able to award grants ranging from 25% to 50% of eligible costs, depending on both the nature of the application and the size of the applicant. Unlike WATES, there will be no revenue payments available through the WATERS fund.

Payments under WATERS will be made quarterly in arrears, based upon actual expenditure against pre-defined eligible costs. This is similar to the system of payments under WATES, which have been issued in arrears subject to the achievement of key agreed milestones. The expectation is that projects receiving support through WATERS will typically be of 18 to 24 month duration.

One area where WATES and WATERS are entirely in sync is that neither fund opened with a view on the expected number of successful applicants.