National Grid and ScottishPower have today announced the award of a £1bn contract to Siemens and cable manufacturer Prysmian to build the first ever sub sea electricity link between Scotland and England. The major grid upgrade will allow the connection of up to 6GW of renewable energy in Scotland.
Tags: National Grid, renewables, ScottishPower
US tycoon Donald Trump has accused First Minister Alex Salmond of seeming “hell bent on destroying Scotland’s coastline” with wind power.
Tags: offshore wind, Scottish Government, site selection, tourism
DONG Energy has announced dates for stakeholder briefings in the region. It appears that these are not open meetings (although public meetings are proposed) but rather attendance is by invitation:
This [meeting] forms an important part of the early consultation being conducted by DONG Energy on the feasibility of an offshore wind farm development in the Outer Solway Firth.
To help us get the widest cross representation of views, we are aiming for one representative from each of up to 15 organisations to be represented at each of these briefings, with the format designed to ensure each organisation attending has an equal opportunity to convey their views and ask questions.
In summary, the meeting will aim to:
- Provide an overview of the potential project at this early stage
- Take initial soundings on the potential for an offshore wind farm within the designated search area
- Elicit views on the format, procedures and main elements that should form part of any full public consultation that would follow a decision by DONG Energy to bring forward a site specific proposal.
Dates are as follows:
Wigtown (County Buildings): 23rd February 2012 at 6:30 pm.
Kirkcudbright: 22nd February 2012
Stranraer: 27th February 2012
Newton Stewart: 28th February 2012
DONG contact details:
Vanessa O’Connell
Project Developer
Renewables UK Project Development
DONG Energy
33 Grosvenor Place
London
SW1X 7HY
Tel. +44 207 8115200
outersolway@dongenergy.co.uk
www.dongenergy.co.uk
Tags: consulation, DONG energy, offshore wind, Outer Solway, stakeholders
DONG Energy has reached agreement with the Crown Estate to examine wind farm potential in coastal waters off Dumfries and Galloway.
Note:
The waters off south west Scotland were identified earlier this year in a report by Scottish government directorate, Marine Scotland Science, as a potential location.
See also: map of Outer Solway search area (source: Marine Scotland and DONG Energy).
Tags: Alex Fergusson, Crown Estate, DONG energy, offshore wind, Scottish Government, site selection, wind farm
A major finance group has urged extreme caution over investing in Scotland’s renewable energy sector, partly because of the independence referendum.
Tags: wind energy
Agreements for lease have been awarded for five offshore renewable energy sites in Scottish territorial waters.
The projects, which could together deliver 5 GW of electricity, are located at Argyll Array and Islay on the west coast, Beatrice in the Moray Firth and at Inch Cape and Neart na Gaoithe in the Outer Forth and Tay.
Crown Estate Press Release.
Tags: Crown Estate
SNP energy minister Fergus Ewing unveiled the Scottish Government’s blueprint for future subsidies yesterday, which includes ending support for biomass plants, and increasing support for tidal renewables.
In The Scotsman.
Tags: renewables, Scottish Government
New strategy is based on ‘unrealistic’ renewable energy targets, say experts.
BREAKING NEWS
1330: The BBC has just informed us that plans for a wind farm in Wigtown Bay and for an extension to the live Robin Rigg wind farm have been dropped by the Scottish Government.
One of the original 10 short term options (Bell Rock) was withdrawn as a result of issues arising from possible radar impacts. The sectoral marine planning process and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment raised particular issues surrounding three short term sites in Kintyre, Solway Firth and Wigtown Bay, which has meant that Scottish Ministers have decided that the three sites should not be progressed as part of the offshore wind Plan. This decision was also informed by the developer of the Kintyre site withdrawing from the site due to the available wind resource, technical and environmental effects and issues raised during consultation.
Tags: Crown Estate, DONG energy, Scottish Government, site selection, wigtown bay, wind farm
Support for our campaign now comes from the English side of the Solway Firth:
EXPERTS exploring the potential for more wind turbines in the Solway Firth have yet to find anyone in favour of the moves.
Cumbrian fishermen fear the impact of more masts would be disastrous for their industry – currently poised for a multi-million pound boost – and tourism. …
… Dr Fiona Simpson and Paul Alcock of Marine Scotland assured the audience that it will be made clear to Scottish politicians that there is no support for wind turbines off the south west Scotland coast, towards Cumbria.“We have spoken to around 550 people in the consultation process and nobody has been in favour,” Mr Alcock said.
Tags: Scottish Government, site selection, tourism, wigtown bay
Maps
