Views
Energy strategy blocked by regulation - for the Inverness Courier
THE opening of the Millenium windfarm in Glenmoriston last week was a powerful reminder of the awesome potential for generating renewable energy that we have in the Highlands.
While it was a still day as I broke a bottle of (cheap) whisky over one of the new turbines, that particular development is already proving to be one of the most productive windfarms around.
The owners of the development, Falck Renewables, have chosen to put their headquarters in Inverness, showing their commitment to the Highlands. Using the latest technology, they monitor from their offices the power being produced not just in Scotland but in Wales, Spain and Italy too.
One of the many merits of the Millenium windfarm is the degree of community involvement. Not only is there financial "community benefit" to the Fort Augustus, Glenmoriston, and Glengarry communities, to be used for whatever the community chooses, but the windfarm is part-owned by a co-operative. Many local people were able to invest in the project and so share in the returns from it.
It also seemed to me that the Millenium windfarm, like the one at Farr, was well-designed and situation to minimise the landscape impact. This is one of the main reasons for objections, often well-founded, especially when our landscape and countryside is the mainstay of Highland tourism.
In fact, the Highland potential on renewables goes far beyond wind power. Marine renewables, especially wave and tidal power offer even greater opportunities and potential for development. There are a number of innovative technologies being developed by Highland based firms, and hopefully the council's work at Nigg could open up a manufacturing base too.
So it is very disappointing that the UK government has shown such a weak commitment to marine renewables. Their obsession with new nuclear power stations seems to be preventing the sort of large scale commitment that we need to see — this is exactly the sort of thing that the government should be investing in to help the country out of recession.
One area where the lack of vision is especially noticeable is on the development of the national grid infrastructure. It would make sense for the government to have a strategy of developing a subsea national grid, around the coast, as part of a strategy to encourage marine renewables.
The barrier is not technology — they do this in other countries — but regulation. Ofgem will not give permission for new transmission infrastructure unless it will be nearly fully used immediately — which prevents a strategic approach being taken. The government — Mr Brown's or whatever follows — needs to shake up the way this whole area is regulated, so that we can exploit to the full the renewable energy potential of the Highlands.
AFGHANISTAN
The funeral of Sergeant Gus Millar at Fort George last week was a deeply sad occasion, the strong turnout marking both the affection for the man and the support across the Highlands for our military. There was also real and justified pride in the way that Sargeant Millar and his colleagues are carrying out their work in Afghanistan.
The tragic losses experienced by the Black Watch have brought home very directly to local people the dangers that our armed forces are experiencing every day in Afghanistan. They are also raising questions about the commitment we have made and the mission we are carrying out in that country.
It seems to me that the governments need urgently to review their strategy in Afghanistan. In fact, while the military is doing its level best, the lack of co-ordination or agreement at a political level is the major problem that we face. The Karzai government is increasingly discredited as the problems with the elections grow. There are some very hard questions that the politicians must address now, given the sacrifices we are asking our armed forces to make.
Posted on: 22/09/2009
