UCL-Energy joins Ricardo-AEA to propose 2030 renewable energy targets for Scotland

Ricardo-AEA, in collaboration with UCL Energy Institute, has been appointed by WWF Scotland – part of the international WWF network, one of the world’s most influential environmental organizations – to propose possible 2030 renewable energy targets for Scotland

Scotland, and the UK as a whole, has legally binding targets to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. Renewable energy will deliver a major part of these reductions and Scotland is already committed to meet 30 percent of the country’s total energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. Scotland has also set out an ambition to secure 100 percent of its electricity demand from renewable energy by 2020. With excellent progress made towards the 2020 targets, a key policy issue is the need to assess the potential for renewable energy in 2030.

The project will include an assessment of Scotland’s current renewable energy provision and its existing aspirations, together with its corresponding emissions targets. UCL’s contribution to this is offered through its world-leading Energy Institute in combination with UCL Consultants Ltd. The UK MARKAL model  (2 region version) – a multi-time period linear optimization model, portraying the entire UK energy system from imports and domestic production resources through to energy service demands – will then be used to develop renewable energy scenarios covering heat, electricity and transport in 2030. The work will provide a robust evidence base to help support decision-making on renewable energy issues in Scotland.

Gabrial Anandarajah and Will McDowall are contributing to this project.