7January/February 2014 | Renewable Energy Focus

News Digest | Full news service at http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com

Naamloos-26 2 31-01-14 11:57:52

Green light for Scottish renewable energy projects

OFFICIAL CONSENT has been

granted for a 20-turbine wind

farm at Moy, near Inverness,

and a combined heat and power bio-

mass plant for the Port of Rosyth. The

Moy wind farm, which represents a

£65 million investment by developer

Eneco Wind UK Ltd, will have 20

turbines with a generating capacity of

up to 66MW. When completed, it could

power the equivalent of approximately

31,000 homes in the area, offi cials said.

The Rosyth plant, a £325 million

investment by Forth Energy, would

provide low carbon energy to the local

area, and the equivalent of more than

40 per cent of the Fife Council area’s

electricity needs would be met by the

development.

Both projects would lead to the

creation of a signifi cant number of

jobs, with the Rosyth plant bringing

up to 500 positions to the area dur-

ing construction, and 70 operational

jobs based at the port. Forth Energy

estimates the project will deliver £26

million of annual economic benefi t per

year to the area. Regarding the Moy

wind farm, there will be up to 60 work-

ers employed during construction, and

the development will also provide ap-

proximately £7.5 million towards com-

munity benefi t projects over 25 years.

The Scottish Government also

approved a wind farm project for

Invermoriston. The Bhlaraidh wind

farm, which will be developed by SSE Generation Limited, could power

the equivalent of 50,900 homes when

completed. What’s more, the project

will provide approximately £13 million

over 25 years for community benefi t

projects, including a sustainable energy

fund and skills and training initiatives.

“The Bhlaraidh wind farm will

create jobs both in its construction

and during its lifetime, and — once up

and running — will save thousands of

tonnes of carbon dioxide each year,”

said Fergus Ewing, Energy Minister.

“Wind farms like this provide consider-

able benefi ts to their local community,

and play an important part in help-

ing Scotland reach its target of the

equivalent of 100 per cent of electricity

demand generated from renewables.”

According to Ewing, a signifi cant

number of jobs will be created dur-

ing the construction phase, which will

cost an estimated £166.3 million. The

ongoing operations and maintenance of

the project is expected to support the

equivalent of 60 jobs in Scotland, more

than half of which will be based in the

Highlands.

According to Scottish Renewables,

11,695 people are currently in full-time

employment across the renewable

energy market in Scotland. Onshore

wind (39%), off shore wind (21%), ma-

rine and bioenergy (both 9%) were the

most notable sources of employment.

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