Scottish Renewables has welcomed two decisions by the energy regulator, Ofgem. Firstly, to give the go-ahead to a subsea link between Caithness and Moray and, secondly, confirmation of its position on reform of transmission charging, known as Project TransmiT.
Welcoming Ofgem’s approval of the new Caithness-Moray link, Michael Rieley, Senior Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables , said:
“Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission’s subsea link will significantly reduce bottlenecks on the system, and could unleash over 1.2GW of renewable energy projects in the north of Scotland which is enough energy to power the equivalent of 637,575 homes.
“Additional transmission links provide clear, long-term benefits for the consumer, help improve our security of supply and will also help us to reach our carbon emission reduction targets.”
Talking about Ofgem’s announcement on transmission charging, Mr Rieley said:
“The industry has been arguing for years that transmission charging for renewable energy projects in the north of Scotland is unfair and in need of reform. So Ofgem’s announcement is a long-awaited, and much welcomed, recognition of the value of the Scottish renewable energy sector.
“The changes will help create a more level playing field between generators on the Scottish mainland and those further south, which is crucial if we are to make the transition to a low carbon energy system while also providing value for consumers.
“Despite our disappointment that the new charging regime won’t be implemented until 2016, four years later than originally estimated, this announcement from Ofgem is undoubtedly good news for the sector.
“We must now focus our attention on ensuring that renewable energy projects on the Scottish islands, which will see little impact from these changes, are also able to unlock their full renewable energy potential.”