The Scottish Government published its Heat in Buildings Supply Chains Delivery Plan in November 2022, setting out the practical steps it will take to support the growth of the green heat sector1. The plan was published alongside the government's response to the Heat Pump Expert Advisory Group's final report1.
The plan launched a new £17.6 million Green Heat Innovation Support Programme to support Scottish companies to respond to clean heat innovation challenges1. The National Insulation Association, an industry body, lists the plan's key commitments as a review of support for green skills and training, a new programme of industry engagement focused on working with installers in the heat and energy efficiency supply chain, the £17.6 million for research and development of new and concept green heating solutions, and more than £800,000 of Green Growth Accelerator funding awarded across all local authorities in the year to help develop a pipeline of low-carbon infrastructure projects, including retrofitting existing buildings3.
On skills, the government said training provision is already available across the public and private sector, with many colleges in Scotland offering heat pump training and more facilities under development1. It said it has invested in a new Mobile Heat Pump Training Centre, accessible to any college in Scotland, which will be capable of delivering on-site training in remote and rural areas1.
"The plan launched a new £17.6 million Green Heat Innovation Support Programme to support Scottish companies to respond to clean heat innovation challenges"
The plan sits under the Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in October 2021, which set out the policy landscape for decarbonising space and water heating in Scotland2. The government's 2023 progress report states that, at current levels of demand, supply chains for clean heating systems and energy efficiency improvements are largely balanced, but that the transition will require them to grow substantially, particularly the number of reliable and skilled tradespeople and businesses who can advise on and install systems and improvements1.
The plan's publication date is given differently in two places. The progress report says the plan was published in November 20221, and the plan's own publication page gives the date as 11 November 20222. The progress report itself was published on 27 October 20231.
Why it matters for households
The plan is aimed at the businesses that install and advise on heating and energy efficiency, not at households directly, so it does not set out grants or rates for individual homes. Its relevance to a household's energy independence is indirect: the pace at which homes can move away from fossil-fuel heating depends on there being enough trained installers and businesses able to carry out the work across Scotland, including in remote and rural areas1. The government's own assessment is that current supply chains are largely balanced at present levels of demand but would need to grow substantially for the transition at the pace and scale needed1. The plan also frames supply chain development as an economic opportunity, including maximising the use of Scottish products and providing companies with a platform to export zero emission heating technologies2.
What happens next
The progress report says the government will continue to work with the sector to identify and address any gaps in training provision or support1. No further dated steps arising from the plan itself are set out in the material available.
Sources4 cited
- Workers and skills - Heat in Buildings: progress report 2023 - gov.scot, gov.scot
- Towards an Industry for Green Heat: heat in buildings supply chains delivery plan - gov.scot, gov.scot
- Chancellor’s Autumn Statement - National Insulation Association, nia-uk.org
- Final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment: New Build Heat Standard, gov.scot