A north MSP has called on the UK Government to invest in the Pentland Firth after it becomes Scotland’s first marine energy park.
Rob Gibson welcomed signals this week from UK ministers that the sea between Caithness and around Orkney would win recognition as a hub for the development of wave and tidal energy.
However, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross also believes more work is required to ensure the area’s huge economic potential can be realised. He called on the UK Government to resolve unfair charging which allows generators in southern England to pay lower rates than the north.
Power industry regulator Ofgem has proposed cutting the tariffs paid by green energy generators in mainland northern Scotland by up to 60%, but there are fears the northern and Western Isles would lose under the plans.
Mr Gibson said: “It would help the proposed marine park if the UK Government could quickly solve the transmission charging regime. Producers would be much more easily attracted to both sides of the Pentland Firth if the unfair Ofgem grid hook-up proposals for renewable electricity producers setting up in these locations got a fair deal.”
