SCOTLAND'S potential for renewable energy development is vast but the ability to capitalise on natural resources has shown to be hamstrung by Westminster policy.
A new video has shown that despite vast potential for Scotland to give citizens clean renewable electricity through wind and tidal energy, having this power reserved to Westminster is preventing any real change.
Energy is one of a range of areas that Holyrood has no power to make legislation along with the likes of immigration reform, as has been highlighted by the recent protests over dawn raids.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon urges Priti Patel to end 'harmful' dawn raids in letter
The video shows that Scotland has some of the highest onshore wind speeds in Europe at and Scottish waters also produce some of the highest European wind speeds.
Scottish waters also boast some of the highest wave resources in all of Europe with waters off the north and western coasts showing the highest density.
All this means that the potential for Scotland to create clean renewable energy is huge.
It comes as a recent report from the Renewable Infrastructure Development Group highlighted the massive costs that energy generators in Scotland pay to transfer electricity to the UK's energy network compared to southern England and many European nations.
READ MORE: British regulators jeopardise Scottish green energy with huge charges
Transmission costs in Scotland, set by UK regulator Ofgem, are the highest in Europe at £7.36 per MWh. In comparison, average costs in England are £0.49 per MWh and some EU countries charge nothing for this service.
The video, which can be viewed below, implies that having these powers reserved to Westminster means that the top five fuel poverty cities in the UK are in Scotland due to high costs for consumers.
#Scotland has the greatest concentration of renewable energy resources in Europe but there’s a problem. Guess what it is… pic.twitter.com/zQ8OaBtPas
— Phantom Power (@PhantomPower14) May 28, 2021
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