Scottish councils ‘siphoning off windfarm community funds’ claims manager
Fiona Milligan, renewable energy developer Infinergy’s Inverness project manager was reported in the Scottish press as claiming that Scottish councils are siphoning off large proportions of windfarm community funds and using the in other areas. “What they are seeing,” Milligan told reporters, “is councils siphoning off sometimes large proportions of funds into vaguely-defined pots which may end up being spent many miles away where there is no impact from the windfarm.” Infinergy has a proposed scheme for 17 turbines in the Highlands, which is currently the subject of an appeal to the Scottish Government.
Potential investors await Scottish wind farm parts foundry planning outcome
A planning proposal submitted by RGR Foundry for an offshore wind farm nacelle facility in Fife has Scottish and Southern Energy and Burntisland Fabrications indicating that they are watching developments of a major European supply chain enhancement with interest.
Ofgem proposed transmission fees a setback for northern isles wind farms
Shetland’s Viking Energy wind farm and Orkney’s marine energy park in the Pentland Firth have suffered a regulatory setback. Ofgem has for 18 months been consulting under Project TransmiT and has proposed a transmission rate for the northern isles that is around seven times greater than mainland generators. The decision is open for further consultation for six months but has already been labelled by Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing as a, “huge disappointment.” Ofgem says that capping charges for the isles would be bad for competition; the Scottish Government said it would press UK ministers to find solutions.
By Ian McInnes