Ewing talks up Scottish renewables

Published on Thursday 5 January 2012 00:27

SCOTLAND can expect more wind farms and other renewable energy schemes to be built in 2012 than in the past year, the energy minister has said.

In his New Year message, Fergus Ewing highlighted that seven gigawatts (GW) of renewable projects were either built or consented in Scotland, with 17GW in the pipeline.

“I am relentlessly positive for 2012, and firmly believe we will build on 2011’s successes to make it an even better year,” said Mr Ewing.

“We have a pipeline of £46 billion of investment in Scottish renewables, which amounts to 17GW of generating capacity.”

He said that a “benefit register” would be introduced this year to help communities make sure they reap the benefits from wind farms.

“Renewable energy provides an opportunity to reindustrialise Scotland, and I am working with the oil and gas sector to ensure we transfer the years of experience to the renewable sector,” he added.

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CheesyQ

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 04:50 PM

They should look at what the Welsh are doing, combined generation and carbon capture on coal faces, without the need to mine. Converting coal into energy by pumping compressed air into existing mines and igniting it, with the co2 filling the void left behind. Green efficient and high output. Sounds like a no brainer? Probably a reason that we won't be going along that route with the 1Billion from Westminster as the SNP has blinkered itself into accepting these 3 bladed turbines rather than look at vertical turbines with greater output or money from the nasty UK for carbon capture. Last week we heard our dear leader say we are at the heart of innovation, where he said Baird and Fleming were so good for our country, so why are we so reliant on Chinese windmills? Probably the same reason that Baird and Fleming left Scotland and invented in England.

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Simonsaid

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 02:32 PM

SCOTLAND can expect more wind farms and other renewable energy schemes to be built in 2012 than in the past year, the energy minister has said.==================== Another threat from the SNP to go along with the other threats like Independence in Europe and the threat to make us defenceless.

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Ron Greer

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:23 PM

5 Fergus Ewing is a Minister in the Scottish Parliament and the SNP rightly does not comment on issues of domestic import in England. It does not matter what the proportionality of useless windfarms in England or Scotland, the main issue is their uselessness, expense, and appropriateness in Scotland.

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Ron Greer

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:11 PM

1 and 6 I think you are both correct. This cannot be about the delivery of C02-reducing, dependable, predictable electricity in viable amounts as ready--to -use- now renewables ( wind, hydro and pump storage) simply do not do that. The ScanNP have stitched up a deal over Devo-max and UK renewables targets. The poor can contemplate the effects in the cold and the dark, whilst Fergus Ewing and the landed vested interests he supports bask in the heat from the money they screwed out of Joe Public.

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6

tested

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 10:24 AM

A big push by the SNP to help the UK reach its renewables targets. I just wonder what deals are being made between Holyrood and westminster. Love the phrase "Renewable energy provides an opportunity to reindustrialise Scotland" I wasnt aware that the Scottish countryside had ever been industrialised.

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samcoldstream

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 09:57 AM

A mixed energy policy is the stated aim of The Department of Energy and Climate Change. There are by far more wind farms being planned, approved, and erected on and off the shores of England and Wales, than in Scotland. However, the myth continues?

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nabodican

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 09:35 AM

What on earth is Fergus Ewing playing at, who does he think he is representing here ? It is certainly not the people of Scotland. Ask the people Fergus - nobody in power has asked them to date, nor have they told them the truth. What we need now is a mass campaign to get this raving idiot out.

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norfolkboy14

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 09:03 AM

Are you disillusioned by rising electricity prices, over dependence on the "green" dream [especially uneconomical and inefficient wind farms] and the destruction of our countryside then please register your objection on http:epetitions.direct.gov.ukpetitions22958 or google"wind petition norfolk" for a quick link. Please get your friends to sign up too. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

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unimpressedone

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 08:56 AM

This £46 billion is not an investment but a bill. A huge millstone round the neck of every energy consumer in the land. And this SNP idiot has not explained that for every MW of renewables power, a similar matched MW of conventional power must be built as standby. As for a 'benefit register', will this include a list of wealthy landowners raking in taxpayers' cash hand over fist?

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Cynicus

Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:48 AM

SCOTLAND can expect more wind farms and other renewable energy schemes to be built in 2012 than in the past year, the energy minister has said ___________________________________________________ Jesus WEPT. ___________________________________________________ The madness continues. Has the SNP not yet grasped the strategic conflict between "renewables" and "independence?" You can have one, but not both. Renewables depends on UK (ie mainly English) subsidies. To have the, you have to keep the UK. Oopsy-whoopsy! So THAT's what all these blethers about DEVO-MAX are about!

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