New figures released today 19 August have revealed the usage of small renewable energy projects within Scotland.

Approximately 42,000 solar schemes (equivalent to around 660,000 250W solar panels), 2,557 small wind projects, 204 hydro-electric schemes and three anaerobic digesters are currently at home within the country.

The figures were revealed by Scottish Renewables and Scotland's Rural College.

However, new small renewables projects are facing an uncertain future, as the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is set to report on expected cuts in mid-September.

A wholesale review of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), which supports these renewable projects, is also expected to start in the next few days.

-- Advertisement --

Stephanie Clark, Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, told how the Feed-in Tariff scheme is all but confirmed to be slashed, and how an upcoming review could see 'huge' cuts to support across all technologies, or remove support altogether.

Ms Clark said: "Last month the industry heard major changes were planned for the FiT scheme – changes which would make many projects unviable.

"Today (August 19) is the closing date for a consultation on the first stage of those changes, but within the next month we’re expecting further cost-cutting proposals to be announced.

"The figures released today demonstrate the extent of our love affair with small-scale renewables, but the current level of change and uncertainty is already punishing the sector.

"Without the FiT scheme thousands of homes and businesses would not have access to the affordable, clean electricity which has allowed them to stabilise their energy bills while reducing the amount of carbon emitted because of their energy use.

"Small-scale renewables can continue to thrive in the UK, but the sector urgently needs confirmation that it has the backing of the Government."

(LM)