³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Home Energy Scotland (HES) is the main advice and referral mechanism to all Scottish Government energy efficiency schemes for homeowners. Energy Saving Trust (EST) manages the HES Service on behalf of the Scottish Government. Home Energy Scotland provide regular figures to the Scottish Government on the numbers of households they advise and the value of that advice. The Scottish Government has regular contact with EST to ensure they are meeting pre-agreed targets and maintaining the high standard of the advice that is expected of these services.

Householders making an enquiry to the HES service are dealt with by trained and qualified (SQA) advisors. HES advisers use a series of tools to ensure that the advice provided is based on the most effective measure for each householders’ specific needs. A fabric first approach is also recommended to households to ensure that heat loss is minimised before the most efficient routes to supplying the remaining residual heat requirements are considered. The analysis provided by an advisor to a householder is informed by use of a personalised Home Energy Check (HEC). The Home Energy Check is generated using bespoke energy modelling software which is used to model the thermal and other energy use characteristics of each property based on data provided by the householder. The HEC can be completed online independently by the householder via the HES website or over the telephone with an advisor.

For vulnerable householders who may require a little more support to be able to engage fully with the service or for households considering installation of low and zero carbon heating or renewable energy technologies, further specialist advice is available which can include a visit from an advisor and a bespoke onsite survey of the home. Energy modelling software is again used to model the property and to generate measures recommendations and savings figures for the householder. Through use of approved bespoke energy modelling and ensuring that advice is only delivered by suitably qualified advisors, the quality of recommendations and advice given to householders is maintained at a consistent, high level.

The Scottish Government’s approach to zero emissions heat technologies is based on a wide range of evidence, including modelling of the suitability of different technologies across the whole Scottish housing stock, and consideration of wider energy system interactions.

We maintain an active Heat in Buildings Research Programme to identify gaps in our knowledge base and produce high-quality research to understand the challenges and solutions in the heat transition.

We have commissioned research to examine the potential of energy storage technologies to reduce running costs for households using zero emissions heat. The research considers how bill savings can be made by pairing storage technologies with onsite generation, and by storing off-peak electricity for later use. This research will be published in 2022.

There is no change to the estimated total project cost.

I can confirm that the legal position has been considered and I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06967 which sets out that the provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 were subject to policy and legal scrutiny and that there is no legal issue arising from this matter.

The content of any legal advice is confidential. By long-standing convention, successive Scottish and Westminster Governments have not disclosed the content of legal advice other than in the most exceptional circumstances.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on the location or number of public electric bike charging points in Scotland. Individual local authorities may hold this information for their respective areas.

Since personal e-bike batteries can be readily removed and charged from household socket outlets, we currently have no evidence that the absence of dedicated public e-bike charging facilities for personal e-bikes is a barrier to use in the same way as for electric vehicles. However, e-bike charging provision is an emerging topic so we remain alert to evolving circumstances and we will be working with our partners to assess charging needs and demands.

We recognise that, given the long-term investment horizons of insurance firms, reforms to Solvency II could enable the release of more productive investment into the economy which can be utilised to boost low-carbon infrastructure and achieve climate pledges. It is imperative, however, that the proper safeguards for the insurance sector within the existing Solvency II regime are maintained.

Through Scotland’s Global Capital Investment Plan and our Green Investment Portfolio, which brings together projects worth £3 billion, we are well positioned to attract investment in low-carbon investments that the industry has stated could be released by reforms to Solvency II. It will also be important for Scotland - as a major hub for the insurance and long-term savings industry - to ensure that the UK regime aligns where appropriate and keeps pace with the approach being taken by the European Union, particularly in relation to impacts on commercial (re)insurers with European platforms.

Ultimately, the regulation of financial services is reserved to Westminster and we await the full detail of the HM Treasury proposed reforms. We do note that the Economic Secretary to the Treasury has claimed the pending reforms will be an area for Brexit opportunity which will unlock tens of billions of pounds of investment by "slashing red tape.” The experience of Scottish businesses to date has shown that Brexit has not reduced “red tape” and instead has been the direct cause of trade friction, additional checks and bureaucracy and increased administration costs. Whilst we do welcome the ambition to release greater levels of capital for infrastructure and green investment, it appears that, in light of the European Commission’s recent proposals for amendments to the Solvency II Directive and for a new Insurance Recovery and Resolution Directive which promises to release 90bn of insurers’ capital for investment in the short term, similar benefits could have been achieved within the EU regime.

The ScotWind outcome is a great opportunity for Scotland to deliver green energy, bring supply chain benefits and to support our just transition objectives.

Over the next few years each project will go through consenting processes, respond to geographical and technological requirements, and find a route to market. There are several variables to be managed across these processes, including aspects such as grid connection and the impact of offshore wind developments on various environmental receptors.

Furthermore, ScotWind promises to be transformational in delivering wider economic supply chain benefits to help power Scotland’s green recovery right across the country. As part of this, the introduction of the Supply Chain Development Statement will enable ongoing dialogue between the offshore wind and public sectors to enable strategic infrastructural planning so that Scotland can maximise the potential benefits from this exciting new era of investment for the Scottish economy.

The Scottish Government’s Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) is awarding £62 million to support bus operators to acquire 276 new zero emission buses and associated infrastructure. Bus operators are free to choose which manufacturer they purchase from and we do not seek to influence this, in order to ensure a level playing field.

Level playing field provisions in trade agreements ensure that competition is open and fair, and that businesses from one trading partner to not gain an unfair advantage and undercut rivals from others. The success of the bus manufacturing industry in Scotland and the UK requires that the industry makes available high-quality products for bus operators at competitive prices and which can compete in the international market.

ADL will manufacture their buses in Falkirk, Wrightbus, Switch and Orion manufacture elsewhere in the UK (with Orion chassis being manufactured in Italy, Poland and Turkey), EVM manufacture in the Republic of Ireland (with the chassis manufactured in Germany) and Yutong manufacture in China. In total, 137 buses will be manufactured in Scotland, 23 in the rest of the UK, and 116 in China.

The following table shows how many buses from which manufacturer ScotZEB is supporting operators to acquire:

The timescale set out in December 2021 was for such contracts to be signed by the end of March 2022. I am aware that Circularity Scotland Ltd is currently in commercial negotiations and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.