SCOTLAND’S next government must work with industry to develop a clear framework for investment in renewable energy, the All-Energy 2016 event heard yesterday. “Whoever makes-up the new government here in Scotland on Friday, I hope that they will work with us and the UK government to find common ground and a way forward for renewables,” said Keith Anderson, chief corporate officer of ScottishPower. “Yes, we need more flexibility from Westminster to allow the continued development of onshore wind,” he continued. “That doesn’t mean asking for subsidy and it can’t involve trying to embarrass the government into backing down from existing statements or policy. But it does require us to work with them to find a way of creating some clarity and framework for investment.” Mr Anderson also called for action on energy storage, noting that 50,000 megawatt hours of electricity – enough to power 12,500 homes for a year – was shut down from wind farms over the UK’s Easter weekend because there was nowhere to store it. Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice chancellor at the University of Strathclyde and co-chair of the Scottish Government’s Scottish Energy Advisory Board – a collaboration between government and industry to develop energy strategy – said 2015 had been a “troubling” year as the UK government undid a raft of renewable policies.
Herald 5th May 2016 read more »