Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey is in Scotland this week highlighting the massive benefit for jobs and business, the energy sector can bring as he visits Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
On Monday Ed Davey started his visit in Shetland, visiting Burradale wind farm, where Scottish Ministers recently granted consent for the 103 turbine Viking Wind Farm, of up to 457MW to be developed.
The Secretary of State also met students of Brae High School, before moving on to the Total Sullom Voe gas facility. The Sullom Voe Terminal is located at the northern end of the largest of the Shetland Islands and is one of the largest oil and liquefied gas terminals in Europe.
Speaking at Viking, Ed Davey said:
“I am really excited by the potential here in Shetland. The fact that there is this huge onshore wind farm with nearly 500 megawatts of potential shows what can be done.
“I am hearing from islanders and from Viking Energy about their longer term ambitions and I obviously want to make that possible if I can.”
Today Ed Davey is in Orkney, where this morning he is visiting the European Marine Energy Centre, a world leader in supporting the development of wave and tidal devices.
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Press release, October 10, 2012; Image: DECC