Pentland Firth power project given backing of £200million

scotland’s electricity grid will get £77million upgrade to allow investment

By David Perry

Published:

An investment in north green power projects worth £277million was announced last night.

Further projects worth more than £1billion are being considered in a desperate bid to meet the 2020 target of generating 20% of UK electricity from renewable sources.

Electricity regulator Ofgem said it is proposing to approve £77million for development of the transmission infrastructure by 2012.

It includes the reinforcement of grid connection between Beauly, in the Highlands, Blackhillock near Keith, and Kintore, in Aberdeenshire. It also includes between Beauly and Dounreay, where power from the Pentland Firth will be collected, and a new substation at Knocknagael. The work will allow £200million of investment in Pentland Firth tidal and wave power over the next five years.

The Crown Estate Commissioners signalled they will approve an initial 11 projects in March, at a meeting at the Scotland Office in London.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, who chaired the meeting, predicted the firth could power 500,000 homes. He adding: “We are now on track to have the biggest wave and tidal project in the world on our doorstep.”

But there was disappointment that questions remain over key proposals for a £302million undersea cable from the Western Isles, a £547million cable from Shetland and a £61million cable from Kintyre to carry power from windfarms to the mainland.

The proposals are in addition to more than £300million in funding for the Beauly to Denny line. It is still to be formally approved by the Scottish Government.

constructive

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Liberal Democrat MP John Thurso said a meeting with the Crown Estate Commissioners earlier yesterday over delays had been “very constructive”. He said it would enable preferred bidders for Pentland Firth sites to ready themselves before announcements in March.

Scottish Energy Minister Jim Mather said: “The scale of investment earmarked in Scotland’s grid network underlines both the scope of the reinforcement needed and sheer scale of renewable energy that Scotland can produce.”

Ofgem chief executive Alistair Buchanan said the plans amount to an injection of £1billion into national grid investment. It is needed to handle the growth in renewable generation arising from Britain’s drive to curb climate change.

A spokesman said the costs will be passed on to consumers, but bills will not rise too much. A further £5billion will be required over the next 10 years.

Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission said the proposals would lead to £200million of work upgrading the transmission network and improve access for renewable generation schemes.

Scottish Renewables chief executive Niall Stuart said: “The announcement is a step towards making our electricity grid fit for purpose, and unlocking investment in renewable generation.”

He added: “The case for additional links to the Western Isles and Shetland will be strengthened in the months to come if individual renewables projects are approved.”