At least £1.3 billion of investment in ‘shovel ready’ Scottish energy
projects is being put at risk by indecision by the UK Government over major
funding decisions according to the Scot-Govt.
Scottish Deputy First Minister John Swinney and leaders of three Scottish
Island Councils have written to Greg Clark, the UK Business and Energy
Minister, to voice concern about the effects of continued uncertainty on
support for large-scale renewable energy projects on the Scottish Islands.
Delays in announcing which technologies will be supported in the next round
of auctions that support the renewable energy sector are putting at risk
existing investments made in developing renewable energy projects which
would bring considerable socio-economic benefits for the Islands’ communities.
An independent report, commissioned by the Scottish Government, estimated
that Scotland’s island economies could benefits from up to £725 million
over the next 25 years from renewables projects.
Swinney and Fergus Ewing, the former Scottish Energy Minister and now
Minister for Rural Affairs, met council leaders from Orkney, Shetland and
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, at the Convention for the Highlands and Islands
in Inverness.
Swinney said: “In the wake of the EU referendum, the UK can ill afford to
miss the opportunity to unlock £1.3 billion of investments offered by the
shovel ready anchor projects on the Western Isles and Shetland and the
associated benefits for the UK-wide supply chain.
“We urge that this period of uncertainty is brought to a swift conclusion
and that the strong economic case for Remote Island Wind, developed in
partnership between the UK Government and the wider Scottish Islands
Delivery Forum membership, is duly acknowledged in a decision that allows
island projects to compete in the next allocation round.
“We would urge the new Secretary of State to take immediate action to
ensure that the UK Government re-engages with this process and delivers on
the commitments to harness the renewables potential of the islands.”
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