Question reference: S3W-03192
- Asked by: Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 13 August 2007
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 4 September 2007
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given any consideration to the potential release of CO2 from peat as a consequence of a major road building project, such as that required across the Barvas Moor peatlands by the building of an industrial scale wind farm at that location.
Answer
There is uncertaintyabout how much carbon dioxide will be released from peat in response to it beingdisturbed by, for example, the construction of a road or a wind farm, particularlythe long-term effects. For this reason the Scottish Government intends to fund aresearch project to improve our knowledge in this area and, more specifically, toreview and revise the way carbon “payback” times for wind farms are currently calculatedusing a methodology published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in 2000. The ScottEnvironment Protection Agency and SNH will be working with us on this research project.It is planned that revised guidelines will be published and available by the endof 2007.
In terms of the proposeddevelopment at Barvas Moor, the developer submitted an addendum (in December 2006)which provided details on the carbon balance associated with construction (includingroad building) on peat. In accordance with the relevant legislative and planningobligations, Scottish ministers will consider all material issues when determiningsection 36 consent applications in Scotland.