The Scottish Government has set out its approach working towards cutting carbon in Scotland's heat system.

The government published its Heat Policy Statement (HPS), detailing its plan on decarbonising the heat system along with a framework for investment in a low carbon heat sector.

The HPS is a component of the Scottish Government's comprehensive approach to energy in the country.

Key features include:

• Designating energy efficiency as a National Infrastructure Priority. This will utilise Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) which will provide an offer of support to all buildings in Scotland – domestic and non-domestic – improving their energy efficiency rating.

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• The £76 million Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) to provide tailored project development support for established and start-up infrastructure projects, including heat, across the private, public and community sectors. This initiative was launched in March 2015.

• A support programme for local authorities to develop a strategic approach to district heating and using the Scotland Heat Map to do so.

• Retaining the ambition to achieve 1.5 TWh of Scotland’s heat demand to be delivered by district or communal heating and to have 40,000 homes connected by 2020.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "This concise Heat Policy Statement brings sets out Scottish Government’s framework for achieving a resilient heat system which transitions to affordable low carbon heat and seizes the economic opportunities that this transformation offers.

"Heat is estimated to account for over half of Scotland’s total energy use and responsible for nearly half of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, so the imperative to take action is very clear."

Minister Ewing added that the government will continue to work with energy experts, businesses and communities to move towards a 'largely' decarbonised heat system by 2050.

(LM)