One step closer to Scottish Islands grid links
28 Apr 2014 01:03 PM
One step closer to
unlocking the renewable energy potential of the Western Isles, Orkney and
Shetland Islands: a new report identifies a series of actions to help deliver
necessary electricity grid connections.
We are one step closer to
unlocking the huge renewable energy potential of the Western Isles, Orkney and
Shetland Islands, as a new report identifies a series of actions to help
deliver necessary electricity grid connections. It is part of on-going
collaborative efforts to support the development of renewable energy projects
on the three Scottish island groups and deliver jobs, investment and wider
community benefits.
The UK Government’s
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey,
said:
“This report will play an
important part in the next stage of our partnership work for renewable energy
from the Scottish islands. We have already made more progress in the last year
than for many years, after the UK Government announced last December additional
support for onshore wind projects, with a special higher Scottish Islands
strike price. While that initiative itself should unlock much potential green
energy, I’m determined to tackle remaining issues despite the complexity
involved.”
The report’s key findings,
which will be considered by the inter-governmental Scottish Islands Renewables
Group, include issues relating to:
- certainty for developers around
the longevity of the support that underpin the business cases for grid
developments
- stability of grid
charges
- loan
guarantees
- research funding support for
grid connections for marine technologies
- continuation of Government input
to oversee co-ordination and delivery of support provisions
The Scottish and UK Governments
recognise the significant contribution that renewable energy generation on the
Scottish islands could make to both Scotland’s and the United
Kingdom’s 2020 renewable energy targets and the governments’
longer-term climate change ambitions.
The report, prepared by
independent consultants Xero Energy, was commissioned jointly by the two
governments.
Notes to
Editors
- The inter-governmental Scottish
Islands Renewables Group consists of DECC, Scottish Government, Highlands and
Islands Enterprise, the three islands councils: Orkney, Shetland and Eilean
Siar, National Grid (as GB electricity system operator), Scottish Hydro
Electric Transmission Ltd (SHE-T) as the local transmission operator and Ofgem
(in an observer role).
- The Xero Energy Report