§ The Duke of Montroseasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the comments about Scotland by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville in the debate on wind energy on 25 February (HL Deb, col. 1305), what arrangement will be required to unblock renewable projects in Scotland; and how many projects are currently blocked. [HL3006]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleMy remarks on 25 February were in relation to NFFO locational flexibility, which is applicable to projects in England74WA and Wales. The Scottish Executive is currently in the process of putting regulations in place to facilitate locational flexibility for SRO (Scottish Renewables Order) projects in Scotland. Subject to approval by the Scottish Parliament, these will be in place by the end of March 2002, bringing Scotland into line with the position in England and Wales.
Scotland is well on the way to achieving its SRO target of 150 MW of installed renewables capacity by 2003. The Scottish Executive is aware of only one project that will benefit from the locational flexibility provisions being put in place, compared to the 100 or so projects that stand to benefit from the new flexibility in England and Wales.