Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, the SNP MSP for the Highland & Islands, has welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Government has committed an additional £1 million to local businesses through the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme as part of the Renewable Heat Action Plan.

Support for biomass heat projects was launched in December 2008, targeting £3.3 million to helping businesses reduce emissions and save money while supporting jobs in forestry and the supply chains. The additional £1 million was split between 16 projects, 6 of which are in the Highlands and Islands.

Dave said: "Renewable heat is a vitally important aspect of our continued effort to be more environmentally responsible and I welcome this initiative. Heat represents half of our energy use and by moving towards biomass, particularly in rural areas off the gas grid, we can have a significant impact on our emission levels.

"Wood fuel projects across Scotland support our national drive for a low carbon economy and I am particularly pleased that a number of businesses in the Highlands & Islands received a share of the funding. This targeted assistance will aid the industry in heating homes effectively and renewably which will ultimately result in meeting our ambitious national target of 11 per cent of heat coming from renewable sources by 2020."

Notes:

Current production of heat from renewable sources is only 1.4 per cent.
The Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme runs from April 2009 to March 2011 and is managed in partnership between Scottish Government and Forestry Commission Scotland. The Scheme aims to increase take-up of renewable heat use by SMEs, transform the Scottish wood fuel market, support rural economies and contribute to renewable energy targets. More information on the next round of the Scheme will be available here.

The 16 projects receiving a share of the funding are:

• Hill of Banchory ESCO Ltd - Hill of Banchory Biomass District Heating Scheme (boiler supplying heat for 206 homes) Banchory - 221,410 pounds
• Beinn Bhuide Energy Ltd - Glenborrodale District Heating Scheme, Ardnamurchan - 100,000 pounds
• Whitehill Storage Company - Continuous Flow Grain and Woodchip Drier, Turriff - 100,000 pounds
• Lovat Arms Hotel - biomass project at Lovat Arms Hotel, Beauly - 78,405 pounds
• PrintMatters - heating for PrintMatters offices and two neighbouring businesses, Brechin - 75,845 pounds
• Wyvis Plant & Power - Blairninich Community Heating Scheme, Strathpeffer - 64,119 pounds
• Ashtree House Hotel - biomass conversion at Ashtree House Hotel, Paisley - 63,105 pounds
• Eagle Brae Cabins - biomass heating for log cabins, Beauly - 60,000 pounds
• A.R.P. Besterman - Auch District Heating Scheme, Bridge of Orchy - 40,335 pounds
• Kemnay Golf Club - biomass boiler at Kemnay Golf Club, Inverurie - 35,950 pounds
• Howie Irvine Ltd - Deeside Activity Park District Heating Scheme, Aboyne - 33,000 pounds
• Dow Waste Management - biomass heating for Dow Waste Management, Cumbernauld - 26,217 pounds
• MacLeod Hotels Ltd - wood pellet boiler at Royal Hotel Portree, Skye - 26,212 pounds
• M.M.R. Ltd/ T J.U. Ross - biomass heating at Eastbank Works, Strathmiglo - 23,625 pounds
• Classic Restorations Scotland - Boiler for Classic Restorations Scotland Workshops, Alyth - 11,557 pounds

      Total - £1,066,000

Information on the Renewable Heat Action Plane can be found here.