Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn has appealed to the UK Government for clarity on a process that could remove the grid charges “millstone” from around the Scottish renewables sector’s neck.
Mr Flynn has repeatedly highlighted the “unfair discrepancy” which results in Scottish green power developments paying higher grid charges than those south of the border.
He has now written to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng asking for the issue to be sorted out.
And the SNP’s Mr Flynn wants to know when a consultation on amending the strategy and policy statement of Ofgem, which oversees the system, will begin.
Developers face additional costs to feed their energy into the grid based on how far away they are from major urban hubs.
As a result, a wind farm in a remote location in Scotland faces a cost for supplying electricity, while a competitor in the south of England may receive a subsidy.
© Supplied by Ruairidh MackenzieLast month, Renewable UK said transmission charges in Scotland were the highest in Europe, putting green energy developer-operators at a significant disadvantage.
The UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has said transmission charging is a matter for Ofgem, as the independent regulator.
However, Mr Flynn said the government was to blame, as responsibility for setting Ofgem’s strategy and policy statement lies with UK ministers.
In his letter to Mr Kwarteng, he said: “I have on two occasions asked you in the chamber to outline when the consultation on amending Ofgem’s strategy and policy statement will begin.
“Despite this consultation being detailed in your own Energy White Paper you have failed to provide an answer.
“I urge you to confirm when the consultation will take place, when it will end, when we can expect a government response and when we will finally see a fair and competitive transmission charging system.”
