- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of confirmation by Home Energy Scotland (HES) that the installation of solar PV and/or energy storage systems will now only be eligible for funding as part of a package that includes other measures, how much energy it estimates has been generated in each of the last five years as a result of solar-only measures supported by HES funding.
Answer
The requested figures for the estimated energy generation of standalone solar PV measures supported by Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme (formerly HES Loan and Cashback Scheme) are set out in the following table. Figures show the estimated energy generation of measures installed that year only, they are not cumulative.
Year | Estimated Generation (Kilowatt-hour) |
2018 - 2019 | 977,688 |
2019 - 2020 | 537,288 |
2020 - 2021 | 971,816 |
2021 - 2022 | 2,178,512 |
2022 - 2023 | 5,182,040 |
It is important to note that these figures are estimates and will not capture the real generation of standalone solar PV measures. These figures are based on a typical system size for domestic buildings, and the estimated generation of these systems.
The HES Grant and Loan Scheme continues to offer funding support for solar PV/energy storage systems where installed alongside a certified renewable heating measure (such as a heat pump). This ensures that the available funding for these measures through the scheme is targeted at installations which reduce emissions by decarbonising heat as well as generating electricity.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of confirmation by Home Energy Scotland that the installation of solar PV and/or energy storage systems will now only be eligible for funding as part of a package that includes other measures, whether it will detail the reasons for this change in eligibility.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19607 on 28 July 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been distributed to installation projects involving solar PV and/or energy storage systems only, rather than as part of a wider retrofitting package, in each of the last five years, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The following response sets out the funding information for solar PV/energy storage systems not installed with a renewable heating or energy efficiency measure across the Scottish Government’s heat in buildings schemes for domestic properties.
Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme
The following table sets out the amount of funding through the HES Grant and Loan Scheme (formerly HES Loan and Cashback Scheme) for solar PV/energy storage systems where not installed with a certified renewable heating or energy efficiency measure. These figures include instances where solar PV/energy storage systems have been installed alongside an existing renewable heating system.
Funding for Standalone Solar PV/Energy Storage Systems (£) |
Local Authority | 2019 - 2020 | 2020 - 2021 | 2021 - 2022 | 2022 - 2023* | 2023 - 2024* |
Aberdeen City | 9,261 | 10,735 | 64,889 | 182,540 | 269,265 |
Aberdeenshire | 120,402 | 115,873 | 201,068 | 911,847 | 954,111 |
Angus | 46,329 | 16,805 | 58,908 | 313,050 | 316,276 |
Argyll and Bute | 2,825 | 24,895 | 18,737 | 122,042 | 106,288 |
City of Edinburgh | 117,950 | 41,516 | 118,757 | 749,162 | 1,076,636 |
Clackmannanshire | 16,000 | 4,978 | 13,953 | 45,235 | 133,039 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 39,206 | 31,747 | 71,477 | 539,127 | 272,325 |
Dundee City | 0 | 0 | 2,010 | 114,980 | 210,306 |
East Ayrshire | 27,100 | 10,000 | 51,873 | 288,763 | 120,182 |
East Dunbartonshire | 28,200 | 18,946 | 22,060 | 212,106 | 271,355 |
East Lothian | 47,154 | 45,686 | 81,079 | 412,592 | 348,158 |
East Renfrewshire | 0 | 10,095 | 31,610 | 179,965 | 226,398 |
Falkirk | 50,337 | 36,433 | 59,249 | 371,154 | 276,194 |
Fife | 95,668 | 97,474 | 159,035 | 1,133,528 | 830,593 |
Glasgow City | 18,250 | 0 | 51,104 | 245,685 | 226,324 |
Highland | 113,324 | 19,320 | 137,520 | 702,488 | 506,745 |
Inverclyde | 10,896 | 0 | 4,410 | 49,090 | 89,620 |
Midlothian | 21,000 | 5,000 | 71,839 | 369,084 | 313,587 |
Moray | 31,000 | 15,200 | 63,437 | 358,730 | 189,517 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,000 | 22,171 |
North Ayrshire | 20,750 | 0 | 21,385 | 211,854 | 136,172 |
North Lanarkshire | 22,700 | 0 | 69,894 | 490,326 | 390,133 |
Orkney Islands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37,830 | 17,580 |
Perth and Kinross | 67,000 | 46,745 | 59,642 | 740,547 | 684,527 |
Renfrewshire | 10,000 | 0 | 19,450 | 124,018 | 161,027 |
Scottish Borders | 83,720 | 44,337 | 173,944 | 476,591 | 381,747 |
Shetland Islands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28,200 | 17,151 |
South Ayrshire | 19,390 | 0 | 21,980 | 176,789 | 130,625 |
South Lanarkshire | 52,780 | 32,630 | 82,560 | 469,842 | 526,385 |
Stirling | 60,770 | 27,634 | 78,837 | 274,197 | 150,961 |
West Dunbartonshire | 0 | 0 | 16,065 | 60,000 | 79,438 |
West Lothian | 32,899 | 39,667 | 146,761 | 670,474 | 687,143 |
* Figures for 2023 – 2024 are up to the end of June 2023. |
Private Rented Sector (PRS) Landlord Loan Scheme
The following table sets out the amount of funding through the PRS Landlord Loan Scheme for solar PV/energy storage systems where not installed with a certified renewable heating or energy efficiency measure. These figures include an instance where solar PV/energy storage systems have been installed alongside an existing renewable heating system.
Funding for Standalone Solar PV/Energy Storage Systems (£) |
Local Authority | 2019 - 2020* | 2020 - 2021 | 2021 - 2022 | 2022 - 2023* | 2023 - 2024** |
Aberdeen City | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Aberdeenshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,000 |
Angus | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Argyll and Bute | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
City of Edinburgh | - | 6,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Clackmannanshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dumfries and Galloway | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dundee City | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
East Ayrshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
East Dunbartonshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
East Lothian | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
East Renfrewshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Falkirk | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fife | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21,065 |
Glasgow City | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Highland | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Inverclyde | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Midlothian | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Moray | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
North Ayrshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
North Lanarkshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Orkney Islands | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Perth and Kinross | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Renfrewshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scottish Borders | - | 3,575 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Shetland Islands | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
South Ayrshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
South Lanarkshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Stirling | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
West Dunbartonshire | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
West Lothian | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* The PRS Landlord Loan Scheme launched in April 2020. ** Figures for 2023 – 2024 are up to the end of June 2023. |
Warmer Homes Scotland
Current scheme criteria allows the installation of solar PV/energy storage systems where not being installed with a renewable heating or energy efficiency measure, however, this is a rare occurrence. Due to commercial sensitivity relating to the price charged by the managing agent for delivery of these measures, the Scottish Government cannot release the amount of funding provided.
Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund
Current scheme criteria allows solar PV/energy storage systems to be installed only where they form part of a renewable heating system. No funding has been awarded for projects installing standalone solar PV/energy storage systems.
Area Based Schemes
Some councils may fund a limited number of standalone solar PV/energy storage systems in the course of their wider Area Based Schemes programmes, however, it is not the main focus of our schemes. The Scottish Government does not hold the specific data requested.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of confirmation by Home Energy Scotland that the installation of solar PV and/or energy storage systems will now only be eligible for funding as part of a package that includes other measures, how many live applications for solar-only projects were open when the eligibility criteria were updated, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The requested figures for live applications for loans for standalone solar PV/energy storage systems not being installed as part of a package including a certified renewable heating system are set out in the following table. These applications were submitted prior to the change in funding on 27 June 2023, and are being processed by Energy Saving Trust, the scheme administrator.
Council Area | Number of Applications |
Aberdeen City | 23 |
Aberdeenshire | 116 |
Angus | 29 |
Argyll and Bute | 7 |
City of Edinburgh | 73 |
Clackmannanshire | 13 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 42 |
Dundee City | 18 |
East Ayrshire | 13 |
East Dunbartonshire | 15 |
East Lothian | 35 |
East Renfrewshire | 19 |
Falkirk | 30 |
Fife | 85 |
Glasgow City | 26 |
Highland | 46 |
Inverclyde | 9 |
Midlothian | 26 |
Moray | 31 |
Na h-Eileanan Siar | 3 |
North Ayrshire | 17 |
North Lanarkshire | 29 |
Orkney Islands | 3 |
Perth and Kinross | 60 |
Renfrewshire | 13 |
Scottish Borders | 34 |
Shetland Islands | 1 |
South Ayrshire | 10 |
South Lanarkshire | 55 |
Stirling | 37 |
West Dunbartonshire | 5 |
West Lothian | 61 |
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 1 August 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of confirmation by Home Energy Scotland that the installation of solar PV and/or energy storage systems will now only be eligible for funding as part of a package that includes other measures, which minister approved this decision.
Answer
I approved this decision as Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights.
For the reasons behind this decision, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19607 on 28 July 2023 . All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 July 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has confirmed when the ferries task force will next meet, and which ministers will be attending.
Answer
I will attend the next meeting of the Orkney Internal Ferry Replacement Task Force, now confirmed for 17 August in Orkney. Future meetings will be led by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance with my support.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 20 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17755 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 May 2023, whether it will provide details of the outcome of the discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs on the points raised.
Answer
I met with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Use and Islands on 27 June to discuss a number of issues which are of mutual interest. We have agreed to take forward further work with officials over the summer.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18957 by Fiona Hyslop on 22 June 2023, how much funding it plans to allocate in each year of the current parliamentary session.
Answer
The amount of funding allocated by the Scottish Government in each year of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, will be informed by Strategies and Infrastructure Expansion Plans currently being developed and delivered by Scotland’s local authorities and to be agreed with Transport Scotland.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 July 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18957 by Fiona Hyslop on 22 June 2023, how much (a) public and (b) private investment has been allocated so far, broken down by funding recipient.
Answer
A total of £4,480,000 of public funding has been allocated so far by Transport Scotland through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund. This is an allocation of £140,000 to each Scottish local authority to enable the development and delivery of public electric vehicle charge point strategies and infrastructure expansion plans. The development of strategies and infrastructure expansion plans will precede capital projects which are expected to commence in 2024, that will seek to draw in private investment from Charge Point Operators as part of the overall £60m funding of the programme.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Paul McLennan on 29 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent ruling on the judicial review of the City of Edinburgh Council's short-term lets licensing scheme, whether it is considering a review of short-term lets legislation, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19106 on 29 June 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .