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Scotland has made great strides in building large amounts of renewable energy generation. But despite this, 90% of households are still using fossil fuels to heat their homes.

There’s plenty of innovation happening in clean heat, but what policy changes do the Scottish and UK Governments need to make to ensure that Scotland meets its climate change targets, tackles fuel poverty and unlocks a clean heat future for the country?

With the 2045 net zero targets inching closer, the Heat in Buildings Bill due to pass through Scottish Parliament next year, a new Climate Change Plan required, and Holyrood elections coming up, there’s never been a more important time to act – and there’s no shortage of opportunities for change.

On Thursday 24 July 12:00-13:00 BST, we discussed Nesta’s upcoming report A policy plan for clean heat in Scotland. A panel of experts explored how Scotland can unlock policy action and provide clear direction for the clean heat transition.

This online event provided a preview from the report's solutions to several key questions:

• How do we make clean heat affordable?
• How do we deliver clean heat at scale?
• How can we support households to ensure an easier, smoother switch to clean heat?
• How do we phase out a reliance on fossil fuel heating?
• Lastly, how do we prepare Scotland’s workforce for the clean heat mass market?

By addressing five critical areas, including policy outcomes and proposed actions for both Scottish and UK Governments, this event provided policymakers in Scotland with a comprehensive and digestible framework that can accelerate the decarbonisation of home heating across Scotland.

Attendees heard from the researchers behind the report. This included Robin Parker and Marcus Shepheard, Mission Manager and Policy Manager respectively at Nesta’s sustainable future mission. Joining them was an expert panel consisting of Gillian Campbell, Director at Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, Dr Matthew Lee, Senior Policy Officer for Energy at Citizens Advice Scotland, and Scott Sanford, Technical Services & Skills Manager at SNIPEF. The event was chaired by Ashley Mclean, Policy Advisor for Nesta Scotland. The discussion was then followed by an audience Q&A session.

This event was for Scottish policymakers, clean heat installers, net zero campaigners, and all those interested in a compelling, workable solution to the clean energy transition across Scotland.