Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill - Call for Views
We would like to hear your views on the Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill, a Scottish Government Bill introduced by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson MSP, on 2 March 2020.
The Committee is particularly keen to hear from anyone, including communities and their partners, who have tried to set up a heat network in their area and the opportunities and challenges involved. We want your experiences good and bad.
Before making a submission, please read our Privacy Notice about submitting your views to a Committee: This tells you about how we process your personal data. Please note that in most cases your written submission will be published on the Scottish Parliament’s website and may be quoted in the Committee’s report or in Committee meetings (which are public and broadcast).
Privacy Notice
Background
According to the Policy Memorandum accompanying the Bill—
“The overall purpose of the Bill is to encourage greater deployment of heat networks in Scotland, in order to help reduce emissions from heating homes and buildings.”
That document also states—
“The Bill will also contribute towards Scotland’s target to deliver 11% of non-electrical heat demand from renewable sources by 2020 and the Scottish Government’s target that 50% of all energy consumption come from renewables by 2030.”
What is a heat network?
A term describing both community and district heating, a heat network distributes heat (most commonly hot water and steam) via insulated pipes from a central generator instead of having a boiler in each property. Such an approach – ideally drawing on renewable energy or recovered waste or surplus heat sources – can be a way of cutting carbon emissions and heating bills for businesses and communities.
Other policy areas
This is a lengthy but single purpose Bill and one that touches on a range of policy areas e.g. renewables, energy efficiency, fuel poverty, land rights and property law (compulsory purchase and wayleaves), planning permission, and climate change.
The Bill
The Bill has 8 parts, comprising 85 sections, over 42 pages—
Part 1 defines a heat network and requires all heat network operators to hold a licence. This licence will be issued by a licensing authority. The Bill allows for this licensing authority to be the Scottish Ministers or for the Scottish Ministers to designate another body to carry out these functions;
Part 2 establishes the heat network consent process for specific projects. Heat network operators will be required to apply for consent to develop new heat networks or to expand existing ones. It interconnects with Part 7;
Part 3 enables local authorities to designate an area as a Heat Network Zone to encourage a strategic planning approach to the construction of heat networks;
Part 4 builds on the designation of heat network zones by allowing the Scottish Ministers to award a Heat Network Zone Permit to a sole operator within a specified zone;
Part 5 places a duty on public sector building owners to assess the viability of connecting their building to a heat network and to report accordingly to the relevant local authority and to the Scottish Ministers;
Part 6 confers powers on licensed heat network operators for the compulsory acquisition of land; to acquire wayleave rights; to survey land for the purpose of construction or operating a heat network, and to access land in order to carry out repairs and to replace apparatus;
Part 7 requires the Scottish Ministers to identify the key assets of each heat network consent application they receive. It also enables the Scottish Ministers to make a transfer scheme in circumstances where an operator ceases to operate a particular heat network;
Part 8 enables the Scottish Ministers to set fees for the various licenses, consents and permits provided for by the Bill; identifies culpability where an offence has been committed, and makes provision for general and miscellaneous matters.
Questions
- Which part of the Heat Networks Bill is of most relevance to you or
your organisation, why, and what do you consider its impact will be?
- Are you content with the definition of heat networks used in section 1
of the Bill? (If not, please elaborate.)
- Previous consultations have
identified different priorities for this legislation – including transition to
low-carbon or renewable energy, tackling fuel poverty, and ensuring consumer
protection. To what extent do you think
such priorities are reflected – and balanced – in the Heat Networks (Scotland)
Bill?
- What are your views on the licensing regime as envisaged by the Bill?
- What is your opinion of the approach taken with Heat Network Zones (see
parts 3 and 4 of the Bill)?
- How will the Bill impact on local authorities? (In terms both of the
assessment of the suitability of their own buildings and also the power to
designate heat network zones)
- Part 6 of the Bill confers powers
for the compulsory acquisition of land and wayleave rights; to survey land for
the purpose of construction or operating a heat network, and to access land in
order to carry out repairs. What do you
think of the extent of the powers in the Bill for licensed heat network
operators (similar, in some respects, to those of utility companies)? Has a
balance been struck with the rights of others (property rights for example)? If
not, what would that balance be?
- Please feel free to provide your views on any other aspects of the Bill
or the policy aims underpinning it if not covered above.
Closing date and how to submit your views
Due to current circumstances and the wish to hear from as many people and organisations as possible, the deadline for the call for views has been extended by two weeks (from 15 May to 29 May).
Submissions may be accepted after this date; please contact the Committee if you wish to request more time.
Your response does not need to cover all the areas specified and can just focus on those that are relevant to you or your organisation. You are also welcome to provide other information that you feel would be relevant.
Please limit your response to no more than four sides of A4, using the template provided. [word template]
Written responses should be sent electronically in Word format (not PDF) to the following address: [email protected].
We encourage members of underrepresented groups to submit evidence. We also welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language.
Please also note that submissions with defamatory content, references to ongoing court cases or third parties’ personal information will not be published online.
If you wish to request that your submission be published without your name, please contact us ([email protected] or 0131 348 5403).
If you cannot submit electronically you may send in a hard copy written submission to:
Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee
Room T3.40
Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh EH99 1SP
Please follow the Committee on Twitter (@SP_Economy) or email the Committee at [email protected] for more information.