- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund a study into the feasibility of an island community, such as Orkney, being made a pilot area for the development of the use of electric vehicles by public bodies, private companies and individuals, given the relatively short distances generally travelled on such islands.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the use of electric vehicles.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support Scottish communities applying for funding to HM Government’s Plugged-In Places Infrastructure Framework scheme to provide the infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the provision of recharging points for electric vehicles.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 15 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it intends to distribute in the form of grants to support marine renewable research and development in 2010-11.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 15 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has distributed in the form of grants to support marine renewable research and development in each of the last seven years.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 15 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the £12 million WATERS fund will be made up of unallocated, unclaimed or withdrawn funds from the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme and, in the case of unclaimed or withdrawn funds, what are the values of these funds and to whom were they originally allocated.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 15 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it will play in managing and administering the WATERS fund.
Answer
Scottish Enterprise will lead on the management and administration of the WATERS fund, working closely with the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 15 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways the WATERS fund will differ from the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme in terms of (a) project eligibility, (b) applicant eligibility, (c) the type of support available, (d) the distribution of payments and (e) the expected number of successful applicants.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide detailed information on awards made under the Rural Priorities scheme since its inception, including location and work undertaken, broken down by Regional Proposal Assessment Committee region.
Answer
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.