UK government committed to Scottish islands’ renewables

Scotland’s Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has confirmed the UK government’s support to the working group that focuses on delivering and connecting renewable energy resources of Scottish island communities.

Fergus Ewing joined representatives from the Islands Councils in Glasgow at a meeting of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group, where he announced that he has received assurances of the UK Government’s commitment to continuing the Scottish Islands Renewable Delivery Forum.

The Scottish Islands Renewable Delivery Forum (SIRDF) was established in 2014 and has been co-chaired by the Scottish and UK Governments.

Its purpose is to support the joint policy aim of delivering and connecting the huge renewable energy resources of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles to the mainland electricity grid.

The UK Government has committed to taking forward the following actions to support the work of the group:

• The publication in July 2015 of important information relating to the level and availability of support for remote island wind generators,
• Securing State Aid approval for the support mechanism (Remote Island Wind Contracts for Difference) from the European Commission,
• Developing proposals to secure EU funding to help the Orkney marine energy sector overcome barriers to grid access.

Following the meeting Fergus Ewing said: “The new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has agreed to continue the work of her predecessor by co-chairing the next meeting of the Scottish Islands Delivery Forum during September, and has indicated an intention to pursue the necessary support mechanism for remote island wind.”

Ewing added that the assurance represents an important statement of the UK’s continued intent of delivering island renewables and grid connections that could have a transformational economic impact for island communities, Orkney Islands Council’s press release reads.

Image: Scottish Government