Solar Energy Scotland Response – Community Benefit GPPs

This consultation focussed on proposed revisions to the Scottish Government’s Good Practice Principles (GPPs). Key points made in our response include:

• We are content for solar PV to be included within the scope of the GPP. However, it is not economically feasible to expect solar projects to provide community benefit contributions (either financial or in-kind) that are anywhere near the levels currently expected for onshore wind, due to a range of factors, as previously provided to Scottish Government and as discussed further in our response
• Based on the current logic of the existing community benefits system for electricity generation it would seem appropriate for both solar and wind power to pay community benefits, where they are co-located.
• We do not believe that the scope of the GPPs should be extended to BESS at this time – whether stand-alone or co-located with solar projects. As a relatively new technology at grid scale, we believe that more work is needed to understand the different project economics of this technology before guidance on community benefit can be considered. As a technology that supports renewable generation, and is not itself a generation technology, we also question whether seeking community benefits for this technology is appropriate.
• While community benefits are voluntary, it is worth noting that they none-the less have an impact on the cost of energy paid by consumers – as the costs of community benefits will need to be recouped by the renewable energy owner / operator.

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