The UK government was yesterday criticised for putting off a decision on allowing developers to compete for subsidies for onshore wind projects on Scotland’s islands.
A new consultation on the issue was announced as Business and Energy Secretary, Greg Clark, unveiled £290million-worth of support packages for offshore wind and marine energy projects.
The announcement was met with anger on the Western and Northern Isles. Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil described it as a “massive kick in the teeth.”
The consultation will seek to “end uncertainty over whether onshore wind projects on remote islands should be treated differently” from projects on the mainland, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said. It will run for 12-weeks until January 31 next year.
Western Isles SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said he was “utterly disappointed” by the decision.
He said: “Today’s announcement – slipped out while the results of the US election were flooding Scotland’s media – mean the UK government has ignored everything they have been told on this issue by Scotland.
“We have waited years for an answer about what level of support will be offered to island wind power. Now it looks like we could have to wait another two years for an answer to that question.”
Mr Allan said he would be seeking a meeting with Scottish ministers so the issue could be raised again with the Westminster government.
Orkney Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur said: “For the UK to meet its renewables and climate change targets, it is essential that we harness the renewable energy potential of our islands. This can also unlock job and wealth creation opportunities in communities such as Orkney.
“It is deeply frustrating, therefore, that the UK Tory Government has stalled on allowing island developers to compete for the funding and long term contracts that recognise the unique onshore technology on our islands.”
Industry body Scottish Renewables said the announcement would leave island developers and communities “bitterly disappointed.”
Chief executive Niall Stuart said: “After years of work on this issue, and many ministerial pledges to resolve it, we still seem no further forward to unlocking investment on Scotland’s islands – home to some of the best wind, wave and tidal resources in Europe.
“With more than 800MW of renewable capacity consented and ready to deliver and a significant capital spend going to UK-based suppliers, the island projects not only serve as important contributions to the Scottish and UK renewable energy targets but to our economy as well.
“But they can only go ahead with contracts to underpin investment and to help meet the prohibitive costs associated with connecting the islands to the national grid.”
Mr Stuart said the funding announced by BEIS, under the contracts for difference scheme, was more welcome news for the offshore wind sector.
He added: “With a budget of £290 million allocated to the auction for the 15-year contracts, a number of offshore wind projects will now decide on whether they wish to bid in.
“There will be strong competition across the UK for these contracts, which will deliver further significant reductions in costs for consumers.
“And continued expansion of the sector will ensure new opportunities for our growing offshore wind supply chain.”
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