Poll shows Scots unwilling to pay bill hike for renewables

Around two-thirds of householders would not pay more for energy if it came from renewable sources, a poll suggests.

The poll commissioned by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers also found that around two-thirds (63%) believe the Government should not close nuclear power plants if it meant having to import energy to replace it.

The survey accompanied a report which said the Scottish Government’s “over-ambitious” plan to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 “may increase fuel poverty and turn Scotland from a net exporter to a net importer of energy”.

The report also said that abandoning nuclear power would force Scotland to import power from non-renewable sources in England and Northern Ireland, reducing emissions savings.

It also suggests a reliance on wind power or other intermittent sources will require a large amount of back-up power when the wind doesn’t blow.

Colin Brown, director of engineering at the institution, said: “The Scottish Government is absolutely right to exploit the country’s huge potential for renewable energy. But we have serious concerns that the over-ambitious 2020 target will push up prices and, combined with the Government’s distaste for nuclear power, turn Scotland from a net exporter to a net importer of energy.

“Without any clear, workable and engineering-based plan of action, it is doubtful whether these targets are achievable at all. Holyrood needs to draw up a detailed, achievable and public strategy on how they plan to deliver these targets.”

The report also argues that the 100% renewables target will “exacerbate” rising oil and gas prices and “push more people into fuel poverty”, and that the Government’s policy “doesn’t appear to be based on any published strategy or engineering analysis of what is physically required to meet the 2020 target”.

A spokesman said: “There are currently no reliable official figures of Scottish, as opposed to UK, absolute energy consumption, combining heat, transport and electricity, and therefore nothing on which to base the percentage targets.

“The 100% target would require renewable energy capacity to be built at five times the rate of the last decade over the next nine years, despite the fact that all the best sites for onshore wind have already been taken. There are still many unknowns for offshore wind and Scotland currently lacks the skills base and manufacturing base to make this happen.”

He added: “If Holyrood wants to maintain its 100% electricity target by 2020 it should clearly state a strategy for achieving it, based on engineering rigour.

“The Scottish Government should prioritise the sourcing of secure, reliable energy supplies for the nation’s electricity, heat and transport needs, while effectively tackling the growing issue of fuel poverty.”