German company gives boost to offshore wind industry with £160m investment Manufacturing company Siemens is to invest £160m in wind turbine production and installation facilities in the UK, creating 1,000 new jobs. The German company had been working on plans to invest £80m, which would have led to 700 jobs, Read more
Greig Cameron Deputy Business Editor Greencoat UK Wind has said its assets outperformed expectations with operations in Scotland among the biggest contributors. The investment fund said generation in the period between April and December last year was 7.6% ahead of target. Within that the 36-turbine Braes of Doune wind farm Read more
People will no longer be able to invest in tax-efficient schemes that benefit from government renewable energy subsidies after the passage of the Finance Bill (Budget) scheduled for July 2014. http://www.scottishenergynews.com/osborne-budget-cuts-personal-tax-breaks-for-renewable-energy-schemes/
BRITAIN’S shale gas revolution is finally set to light up this year, spurred on by Budget proposals to ease tax burdens and train thousands of new workers for the industry. http://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/466262/Budget-boost-for-fracking-revolution
Growing crops to make “green” biofuel harms the environment and drives up food prices, admits the United Nations http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/10716756/Biofuels-do-more-harm-than-good-UN-warns.html
A MASSIVE Highland wind farm proposal which could make the Scottish Conservatives’ environment spokesman more than £8 million has been criticised by the environment watchdog. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has warned that the huge Ardchonnel wind farm in Argyll would have “significant adverse impacts” on local villages and the skyline, Read more
David Ross Highland Correspondent RURAL groups are at loggerheads with “outsider” charity and quango chiefs amid claims the voices of those who live and work on Scotland’s wild lands are being ignored. land RIGHTS: A dispute over areas deemed to be wild has escalated between community owners and conservationists. Picture: Read more
By Laura Paterson Plans to build the world’s third-biggest offshore windfarm in the Moray Firth could be under threat from a bird protection charity. RSPB Scotland is considering mounting a legal challenge after the Scottish Government last week backed plans for two neighbouring projects off the Caithness coast. The windfarms Read more