AS yet more predictions emerge of a crisis hitting Scotland’s onshore wind power industry, an emergency summit is to be held in Glasgow early next month to discuss the impact of the UK Government’s decision to end wind farm subsidies.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has called for the meeting with key players in the renewables sector to hear the concerns of the industry after the Westminster Government decided to end subsidies for onshore wind a year early.
According to renewables industry sources, the decision to call an early halt to the Renewables Obligation scheme could cost Scotland thousands of jobs and millions of pounds in investment.
Two top academic experts on energy yesterday joined the condemnation of the UK Government saying it will leave Scotland the “worst affected”.
Professor Peter Strachan of Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen University’s Dr David Toke warned of the consequences for Scotland’s onshore wind industry including a threat to thousands of jobs.
In an article for Energy Voice, they said the UK Government’s decision to cut subsidies for onshore wind and future prospects for the onshore wind industry across the UK and particularly in Scotland “appear dire”.
Commenting, SNP Energy and Climate Change spokesperson Callum McCaig MP said: “The Tory government are being reckless with Scotland’s onshore wind industry.
“It’s clear that energy budgets are at severe risk of being spent on new nuclear at the expense of renewable energy — which will hit both jobs in the renewable sector and hit consumers in the pocket. The UK Government needs to have a serious re-think.
“As highlighted by Professor Strachan and Dr Toke, in Scotland we have fantastic opportunities to be a world leader in a range of renewable technologies which provide clean, sustainable power which we simply must capitalise on.
“The UK Government needs to immediately re-consider its wrong-headed priorities and deliver an energy policy fit for the 21st century — ensuring its obsession with nuclear energy is not allowed to put Scotland’s renewable industry at a disadvantage.”
Fergus Ewing wants next month’s summit to inform his ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd, and other devolved administrations.
Ewing met Rudd earlier this week in London and invited her to Scotland to see for herself the impact this decision will have in Scotland.
Ewing said: “The Scottish Government strongly disagrees with this decision which was made without our consent and will have such a negative impact on a key sector of the Scottish economy.
“The proposals have a disproportionate impact on Scotland as around 70 per cent of onshore wind projects in the UK planning system are here.
“There are many communities and companies who have invested significant amounts of money in renewables schemes and have now found the goalposts have been moved, putting crucial investment and jobs at risk.
“The Scottish Government remains committed to the renewable sector and to achieving our target of 100 per cent of our electricity demand through renewables by 2020, and the onshore wind sector is a significant part of that.”
Niall Stuart, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “The recent announcement to close the Renewables Obligation to onshore wind has caused a huge amount of disquiet within the industry, and threatens significant levels of investment, employment and renewable power generation.
“This is a key issue for everyone with an interest in renewable energy development in Scotland and the summit will be an important opportunity for our members to put over their questions, comments and concerns to the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism as we seek to find a way to ensure the sustainable growth of our onshore wind industry.”
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