New figures show the Scottish Government's business rates relief scheme for renewable energy generators has saved the industry around £4 million this year.
The scheme, the only one of its kind in the UK, offers discounts on business rates of up to 100 per cent. The relief, introduced in 2010, is stepped so that smaller renewables projects receive the highest level of discounts.
The figures, now available for the first time, show the relief has saved the renewables industry about £4 million in 2011-12, freeing up money to reinvest in the industry.
Currently around 85 renewable energy properties benefit from the relief - and around 50 of these qualify for 100 per cent relief and pay no business rates at all.
This targeted relief is just one part of the support offered to renewables through the business rates system. All offshore regeneration is completely exempted from rates, while micro-generation equipment, which encourages businesses to be energy self sufficient, is excluded from the valuation of a business property.
The news comes as Energy Minster Fergus Ewing prepares to address a major conference in Edinburgh on Wednesday on how landowners can get involved in renewables.
Mr Ewing said: "Scotland is leading the world in renewable energy, but if we are to reach our ambitious but achievable goal of generating the equivalent of 100 per cent of our electricity requirements from renewables by 2020, we need businesses and landowners to invest in the technology.
"These new figures show the success of our measures to give rates relief for renewable energy generators and thanks to rates relief, four million pounds has been freed up this year for further investment in the development and deployment of green energy technologies.
"That underlines our desire to make Scotland world leader in renewables, secure new jobs and investment and retain Scotland's position as the most supportive environment for business in the UK."
Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables Niall Stuart said: "The rates relief scheme is particularly important to small-scale developments, many of which are community-owned. These figures show that significant savings have been generated by the scheme for developers and communities to re-invest in other projects or local facilities and services.
"It is contributing to attracting investment to Scotland and an important part of the support for community projects as the Government seeks to deliver 500 Megawatts of community renewables developments by 2020."
The conference on Wednesday November 2 at Norton House Hotel, Ingliston, Edinburgh, Renewables and the Scottish Landscape - Opportunities and Threats, is organised by Saffery Champness, Turcan Connell and Savills.
(GK)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
22/11/2024
SP Energy Networks has announced a major investment in Britain's electricity grid, selecting 19 preferred partners to deliver a £5.4bn supply chain programme. This significant initiative aims to meet increasing energy demand and facilitate future growth. The selected companies, many of which are ...
22/11/2024
Edinburgh City Council has launched a 12-week public consultation on a new strategy to revitalise Princes Street and the wider Waverley Valley. The vision aims to create a more vibrant and welcoming city centre, attracting investment, supporting businesses, and enhancing the visitor ...
22/11/2024
Ener-G Services Limited, a leading UK electrical engineering company specialising in renewables, marine, and offshore sectors, has expanded its operations in Westhill, Aberdeenshire. The company has leased Unit 6E at Kingshill Commercial Park, a 2,500 sq ft space, on a 5-year lease. This new ...
22/11/2024
A consortium of leading scientists, industry experts, and academic institutions has joined forces to accelerate Scotland's offshore wind sector. The £2.5 million project, led by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with the University of Dundee and the Forth and Tay Offshore cluster (FTO), ...
22/11/2024
The Port of Aberdeen and Turner & Townsend were highly commended in the 'Engineering, Construction & Infrastructure Project of the Year' category at the APM Project Management Awards 2024. The award recognises excellence in project management and the positive impact on end-users. The £420 million ...
22/11/2024
South Lanarkshire Council's £10 million fire safety improvement programme has reached a significant milestone, with CCG (Scotland) completing installations in over 1,700 high-rise residences across East Kilbride and Cambuslang. The Glasgow-based construction firm has been working closely with the ...
22/11/2024
SSEN Transmission, a key player in the UK's energy transition, is set to further expand its workforce and move into a new, sustainable office space in Glasgow. The company's commitment to net zero and the increasing demand for green energy workers has led to significant growth, with the number of ...
22/11/2024
Scottish Water is investing in the upgrade of its Loch Eck clean water plant in Dunoon. The project involves replacing outdated dry well pumps with new, more reliable pumps capable of operating in both wet and dry conditions. WGM Engineering, an RSK Group company, has been tasked with carrying out ...
22/11/2024
Scottish Land & Estates has expressed serious concerns over the Scottish Government's Land Reform Bill, particularly the provisions that would allow ministers to force landowners to sell large estates in lots. Sarah-Jane Laing, the organisation's chief executive, stated that while the land-based ...
22/11/2024
Clark Contracts employees have once again shown their commitment to community engagement by volunteering at Silverburn Park in Leven. On Thursday, 21st November, 16 members of the team spent their day planting over 400 trees and carrying out other landscaping tasks. This latest volunteering effort ...