LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME


[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]

Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

Get weekly updates
RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Stripe

Donate via Paypal

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

News Watch Home

Viking opponents question viability of cable 

Credit:  Written by Hans J Marter | Shetland News | 08 October 2018 | www.shetnews.co.uk ~~

The group opposing Viking Energy and other large wind farm developments in Shetland has poured cold water on claims describing last week’s submission of a so-called ‘needs case’ for a 600 megawatt interconnector as a “significant milestone”.

Sustainable Shetland said that there was no guarantee that a sufficient number of Shetland-based projects would win government subsidies under the Contract for Difference (CfD) auction to enable the planned interconnector to be of “value for money for electricity consumers”.

Chairman of the group Frank Hay said a similar needs case had also been made for the Western Isles, meaning that remote island based projects would compete against each other and against offshore projects for a limited amount of government money.

On Friday, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) submitted its plans for the 260 kilometre long cable between Shetland and Caithness to energy regulator Ofgem (SSEN makes case for interconnector cable; SN, 05/10/2018).

Viking Energy’s head of development and strategy Aaron Priest said the move was a “welcome boost” to the project, which could begin construction in spring 2020 should it be successful in the next May’s CfD auction.

Sustainable Shetland said Shetland Charitable Trust, which has a 45 per cent stake in the project, continued to gamble with public money.

“A similar needs case has of course already been submitted for the Western Isles by SSEN,” Hay said.

“But when it comes to next year’s much-trumpeted auction, developers there will be in competition with those in Shetland – and with offshore wind developers, one of which may be one that is now fully owned by SSE – Seagreen Wind Energy Ltd.

“Such are the vagaries if not insanities of the market economy! And there will only be a limited amount of money available for this auction round.

“We hope that Ofgem will seriously consider the cost detriments against the benefits promoted by developers.

“Value for money for electricity consumers is highly doubtful in this case. The capital cost of the transmission link/inter-connector is likely to be vast.”

Hay also questioned whether Viking Energy would be allowed to participate in next year’s CfD auction if they had not achieved the planning consent variation for larger turbines by May 2019 (Increase planned for size of Viking turbines; SN, 26/09/2018).

He added: “Viking claim that an interconnector will bring ‘economic, social and environmental benefits to the islands’. Many people in Shetland would strongly disagree with this statement especially regarding the environment.”

Source:  Written by Hans J Marter | Shetland News | 08 October 2018 | www.shetnews.co.uk

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Contributions
   Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)
Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI M TG TS G Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook Wind Watch on Linked In

Wind Watch on Mastodon Wind Watch on Truth Social

Wind Watch on Gab Wind Watch on Bluesky