The Scottish Government‘s new energy efficiency standards for buildings have sparked concern from Scotland’s solar energy trade body.
They argue that the proposed regulations are outdated and may exclude solar power from new rooftops, despite advancements in renewable technology and mandates from the EU and England.
The government has opened a consultation on adopting rules inspired by the Passivhaus standard, known for its high insulation and air tightness leading to low energy demand.
Modern versions of Passivhaus, such as ‘Plus’ and ‘Premium’, include requirements for renewable energy installations like solar power, but these are not mentioned in the current consultation.
Josh King, Chair of trade group Solar Energy Scotland said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s intentions to upgrade fabric and comfort standards and improve quality assurance for newbuild properties.
“However, we caution against using outdated energy calculations that undervalue on-site generation such as solar power, and the huge opportunities of battery energy storage and smart home energy management.
“We would encourage the Scottish Government to align with the EU and the rest of the UK on rooftop solar.”
