As concern grows over the UK’s energy security, it has emerged that the government is considering stripping a key system-operator role from National Grid and handing it to a public-owned body. http://www.theweek.co.uk/66689/national-grid-will-tories-nationalise-the-energy-system-operator
PLANS to build an operations and maintenance base at Wick harbour to service one of the biggest offshore wind farms in the world are set to be unveiled to the public. http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Base-plans-unveiled-for-wind-farm-03032016.htm
The Stornoway Wind Farm has now cleared another of its aviation hurdles following the news that Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) have withdrawn any concerns they had about the potential impact on Stornoway Airport following the implementation and testing of new procedures. http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/local-headlines/hurdle-cleared-by-stornoway-wind-farm-1-4042541
The Environmental Assessment Of Plans And Programmes Regulations 2004 Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF PLANS AND PROGRAMMES REGULATIONS 2004 OFFSHORE ENERGY STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is conducting a Strategic Environmental Assessment of a draft plan/programme to enable future renewable Read more
Solar panels which use the sun to heat water will no longer receive subsidies under plans unveiled by the Government. The industry has reacted furiously to the move to do away with support for new solar thermal schemes from next year under the renewable heat incentive (RHI), which aims to Read more
Ministers have been forced to reassure consumers and business that the latest changes to the government’s flagship energy market reforms will deal with any supply problems, illustrating how desperate matters have become UK energy policy is in disarray – but blackouts are unlikely/The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/01/uk-energy-policy-is-in-disarray-but-blackouts-are-unlikely
The online SVZ here reported yesterday on a wind-turbine construction accident occurring in Southern Germany. Workers of the Hamburg-based Nordex company were operating a large hoisting crane by remote control as it lifted the 60-tonne wind turbine rotor assembly for mounting onto the 200-meter tall tower. At 60 meters height Read more
A company has failed in its legal bid to overturn Energy Minister Fergus Ewing’s refusal to grant planning permission for a 34-turbine wind farm. Glenmorie Wind Farm Limited was denied consent for the scheme near Bonar Bridge in Sutherland in August 2014. Lawyers for the firm argued at the Court Read more