Edinburgh plugs into local power

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A new report commissioned by Edinburgh City Council and green pressure groups has said the capital could be a world leader in fighting climate change.

The report said Edinburgh could consume less gas and slash its CO2 emissions if more locally-generated power and small-scale renewable energy was used.

The report called for more use of domestic solar and wind generation.

It also urged for the creation of new local community heating schemes and a move away from large power stations.

Solar panels

Edinburgh, like most major cities, currently relies on energy generated from coal, gas and nuclear stations, many miles from the city.

Experts argue that using these sources wastes about two-thirds of the energy they generate because of heat escapes and power loss during transmission across large distances.

The report by energy consultants PB Power said community heating networks would cut waste energy by recycling it to heat blocks of flats and homes in high density areas.

Combining these with renewables such as wind turbines and solar panels on homes could provide 35% of Edinburgh's heat needs under a "high decentralisation" strategy by 2025, it said.

The report was commissioned by the council as well as Greenpeace and WWF Scotland.

Scotland can reject the UK government's proposals to build new nuclear power stations and still win hands down on reducing emissions Dr Doug ParrGreenpeace

Council leader Cllr Ewan Aitken said: "Scotland's capital city has a leading role to play in reducing our country's greenhouse gas emissions.

"Through switching to locally produced energy, Edinburgh can take its place in the vanguard of the fight against climate change."

From May next year, new planning guidelines mean that future large developments in the city will have to be able to generate up to 20% of their own power needs.

Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland, said the current centralised system of energy generation was inefficient.

He said: "Two thirds of the energy generated is wasted before it even reaches the consumer and given our heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy production this results in unnecessary climate emissions.

"This is simply unacceptable in the midst of an international climate crisis which threatens the livelihoods of millions and is putting tens of thousands of species at risk of extinction."

Greenpeace's Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr Doug Parr, added: "This report shows that Scotland can reject the UK government's proposals to build new nuclear power stations and still win hands down on reducing emissions."