First Minister Alex Salmond has met with Ofgem as part of a party including Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy and the Scottish Renewables Forum, to press the “unanswerable case” that the Electricity Transmission Charging Regime as it stands works against the development of renewable and clean energy in Scotland.
Salmond said: “We had a very useful and constructive meeting with Ofgem. The Scottish Government, Scottish Power, SSE and Scottish Renewables presented a united and unanswerable case.
“No other country in Europe enjoys Scotland's vast array of potentially cheap, renewable and low-carbon energy sources. We have an abundance of renewable resources - onshore and offshore wind, wave, tidal, biomass. We have the resources and skills to develop clean coal, carbon capture and storage. The UK and Europe need Scotland to help meet renewable and carbon reduction targets.
“However, at the moment, the transmission charging regime actively works against the development of these resources - with a power station in central Scotland paying £25m for transmission more than a similar facility in Yorkshire and more than in London. The charging system encourages generation near large centres of population. It does not aim to promote sustainable development. This cannot be right in today's world.
“Ofgem gave a positive response to many of our detailed points. Changes are urgently required on the method used by National Grid for charging for generation capacity and on the current volatility of flat charges. We will continue to work closely with Ofgem, and in addition press National Grid to reconsider their whole approach to transmission charging. This Scotland Group led by the Government will now take our case directly to the National Grid company in a meeting on 17 April."
Also yesterday, Scottish Ministers approved the Gordonbush wind farm, near Brora in Sutherland, which will be capable of powering 37,000 homes.
The 87.5 Megawatt, 35 turbine wind farm will be subject to conditions to minimise any potential disturbance to local wildlife and to safeguard local interests.
Salmond said: “This is another milestone in our drive to harness Scotland's massive clean, low carbon energy potential.
“This Government has now determined more than twice as many energy applications than in the last year of the previous administration - 11 determinations since May 2007, compared to four determinations in 2006/2007. And in addition, we have the commitment to ensure the conditions are right to invest with certainty in potentially planet saving renewable and low carbon technology.”
Conditions attached to the approval include a legal agreement to stipulate the use of the site in relation to community benefit, crofting interests and transport and access requirements; prior to construction starting, a Habitat Management Plan being established, covering 5,500 hectares designed to minimise impacts on birds, and an Ornithological Steering Group must be convened prior to work starting to undertake monitoring of breeding birds. Construction close to the vicinity of previously recorded bird activity will also be phased to avoid the breeding season.
Energy Minister Jim Mather added: “We have always said we want the right projects in the right places. Gordonbush wind farm will come close to part of the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area, and will be a good example of a sensitively scaled and sited wind farm operating in harmony with the environment.
“As long as we rigorously assess and safeguard potential impacts on wildlife, there is absolutely no reason that wind farms cannot exist alongside local wildlife.”
One person has commented on this article. 1. Salmond meets with Ofgem over transmission charges
Anonymous, Unregistered what this article does not say is that electricity consumers in Scotland ( and the UK generally ) are paying directly in their electricity bills 73% of these enormous transmission costs for sending wind power from Scotland to SE England. This is in addition to the 27% which wind generators pay directly and which presumably finds its way through to sonbsumers in the due course.Some one has to pay and it will still be the consumer.
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