Call for Evidence

Terms of reference: Renewable energy in Scotland

The Committee calls for evidence to be submitted on the following issues: 

1) Scotland’s renewable energy targets

-How effective has the setting of targets been in achieving ‘net zero’ emissions by 2050 (UK Government) and 2045 (Scottish Government)?

-What lessons can or have been learned from setting net zero targets?

-To what extent does the UK Government’s latest white paper – Powering our net-zero future – ensure that renewable energy targets will be met in the UK.

2) Renewable energy sources

-What variables have contributed toward wind energy providing more energy to the grid than any other renewable source?

-Why does marine energy account for such a small proportion of the total energy output of renewables in Scotland?

-What is being done to develop and research other forms of renewable energy in Scotland such as wave/tidal energy and carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) energy or others?

3) Employment in renewable energy sector

In 2010 the Scottish Government said there was a potential for 130,000 jobs (Scottish Government, A low carbon economic strategy for Scotland, November 2010, p.10) in the low carbon renewable energy sector.

-What policy decisions do the UK and Scottish Governments need to make to increase the number of jobs in the renewable energy sector?

-How effective has the renewable energy sector been in producing careers for Scottish people?

-What UK and Scottish Government support would facilitate the growth of jobs in this sector?

-What do the UK and Scottish Governments need to do to achieve a ‘just transition’ for workers in the oil and gas industry to successfully redeploy to the renewable sector or other sectors?

4) Intergovernmental relations

-How effective have the Scottish and UK Governments been in harnessing Scotland’s renewable energy potential?

-How effective has consultation between the two Governments been on the development and design of renewable policies?

-What discussions took place between the Scottish and UK Governments in preparing the Energy White Paper?

-How will the Energy White Paper affect the renewable energy sector in Scotland?

-How can the UK and Scottish Governments work together effectively to achieve their respective targets of net zero by 2050/2045?

Deadline for submissions

The Committee calls for evidence to be submitted by Friday 14 May. 

Anonymous/confidential submissions

If you would like to ask the Committee to accept your submission anonymously (meaning it will be published but without your name), or confidentially (meaning it won't be published at all), please say at the start of your evidence which of these you want to request, and tell us why.