LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

High level summit for island windfarm crisis 

Credit:  Hebrides News | 18/12/13 | www.hebrides-news.com ~~

The Scottish Government is to hold a summit on the crisis over developing large windfarms on the islands.

There are serious fears that developers will walk away because the returns will not be so lucrative.

It follows the UK government’s shock decision not to increase the subsidy for onshore windfarms as much as hoped while shifting the focus on energy schemes at sea

A second blow has been delivered by a delay to the final announcement about charges to export energy onto the national grid which may also affect sub-sea cables needed for the Western Isles and the Northern Isles.

Scotland’s Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing and the leaders of Scotland’s three islands councils, have today announced plans to convene a summit following what has been described as a missed opportunity by the UK Government.

The summit follows a recent Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announcement of additional support for Scottish island wind – £115/MWh, compared to £90/MWh on the mainland.

“While this support for the islands represents progress following years of work by governments, local authorities and industry, there is concern that a one size fits all approach will fall short of what is required for developments to proceed in all of the islands.

“The summit will also now consider the implications of Ofgem’s decision this week to delay the conclusion of its transmission charging review – Project Transmit.

Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing said: “The evidence that has underpinned work to date sets out different requirements for each of the islands and we had expected to see different strike price arrangements for each to reflect this.

“Developers will now need to assess whether this support will work for them. If, as the evidence suggests, it will not, I will work with all of the Scottish islands councils, and will move swiftly to bring UK Ministers and all interested parties together to assess whether anything further can be done to help deliver a positive outcome for each island group.

“The decision from the UK Government could result in a huge missed opportunity if it does not work for all three of the Scottish Island groups. Renewable energy on Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles has the potential to provide up to 5% of GB electricity demand by 2030, and create tens of thousands of jobs.”

Angus Campbell, leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “The Comhairle wholeheartedly supports the Scottish Government in its call for a summit in early 2014 to bring all interested parties together to assess the position and to ensure that an approach and mechanisms are put in place to ensure developer confidence is maintained and that there is a clear timeline for inter-connector implementation.”

Orkney Islands Council Convener Steven Heddle said: “The Scottish islands can make a significant contribution to UK energy security.

“Orkney has already established a world leading role in the development of marine renewable energy. With the right support in place, developers will commit themselves to commercial-scale wave and tidal projects within Orkney’s energy-rich waters.

“New grid connections are vital if Orkney is to fulfil its huge potential for energy generation from the seas around us. I welcome the announcement of the summit and look forward to working with both Governments to find solutions that unlock island transmission connections for the benefit of Scotland and the UK as a whole.”

Shetland Islands Council Leader, Gary Robinson said: “I welcome the announcement of a summit, it is important that a positive dialogue continues between all parties towards a solution which can work for all three of Scotland’s island groups”.

Source:  Hebrides News | 18/12/13 | www.hebrides-news.com

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon