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==Nuclear power==
==Nuclear power==
When the [[UK Government]] announced an energy review in early 2006, the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) and others made clear their view that Scotland did not need new nuclear power stations.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4634878.stm Call to halt nuclear power plans] BBC January 23, 2006</ref> By January 2008, when the UK Government gave the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations to be built across the UK, the SNP formed the [[Scottish Government]] and [[First Minister]] [[Alex Salmond]] made clear there was "no chance" of more nuclear power stations being built in [[Scotland]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7179579.stm New nuclear plants get go-ahead]</ref> The Government's stance was backed by the [[Scottish Parliament]] which voted 63-58 to support the Scottish Government's policy of opposing new nuclear power stations.<ref>[http://news.scotsman.com/nuclearenergy/MSPs-vote-No-to-new.3686900.jp MSPs vote No to new nuclear stations] [[The Scotsman]] January 18, 2008</ref>
When the [[UK Government]] announced an energy review in early 2006, the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) and others made clear their view that Scotland did not need new nuclear power stations.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4634878.stm Call to halt nuclear power plans] BBC January 23, 2006</ref> By January 2008, when the UK Government gave the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations to be built across the UK, the SNP formed the [[Scottish Government]] and [[First Minister]] [[Alex Salmond]] made clear there was "no chance" of more nuclear power stations being built in [[Scotland]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7179579.stm New nuclear plants get go-ahead]</ref> The Government's stance was backed by the [[Scottish Parliament]] which voted 63-58 to support the Scottish Government's policy of opposing new nuclear power stations.<ref>[http://news.scotsman.com/nuclearenergy/MSPs-vote-No-to-new.3686900.jp MSPs vote No to new nuclear stations] [[The Scotsman]] January 18, 2008</ref>

==Beauly-Denny power line==
A proposed 400kV upgrade to the existing 132 kV transmission network, seen as key to future expansion<ref>[http://www.bwea.com/media/news/070205.html BWEA position on Beauly Denny] Retrieved 2 April 2008.</ref> was held up in planning<ref>[http://www.beaulydenny.co.uk/ Beauly Denny Public Inquiry website], Retrieved 2 April 2008.</ref> for three years. There was vocal opposition from some sectors<ref>[http://www.pylonpressure.com/more-powerlines-g.asp Pylon Pressure website - Beauly Denny] Retrieved 2 April 2008.</ref> and strong support from other sectors.<ref>[http://www.beaulydenny.org/bdfriends.pdf Friends of the Beauly Denny Power Line Upgrade]</ref> The proposed 220km circuit is to run from [[Beauly]], west of Inverness to [[Denny, Falkirk|Denny]], west of [[Falkirk]].

In 2008, the first major independent study associated with the Scottish Government’s renewable energy targets concluded that the upgrade of the Beauly-Denny power line will be a key to future development.<ref>[http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/978401?UserKey= Power-line opponents dealt blow by independent study]</ref>

In January 2010, the Scottish Government approved the upgrade to the Beauly to Denny transmission line.<ref name="news" />


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 01:28, 1 July 2012

Energy policy in Scotland is a matter that has been specifically reserved to the UK parliament under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998 that created the devolved Scottish Parliament.[1] However, since planning is a matter that has been devolved, the Scottish government has the ability to shape the direction of energy generation in Scotland by approving or refusing new projects.

In 2004, the Enterprise Committee of the Scottish Parliament called for the development of a 'fully fledged' Scottish energy policy.[2]

The SNP Government that took power in May 2007 specifically included the word 'energy' in a portfolio title when the junior ministerial position of Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism was created to replace the position of 'Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning'.

Overview

Scotland has a mix of energy sources and is a net exporter of energy at a time when the United Kingdom as a whole is heading towards becoming a net importer[citation needed].

Renewable energy

Main article: Renewable energy in Scotland
Wind, wave and tide make up more than 80% of Scotland's renewable energy potential.

The production of renewable energy in Scotland is an issue that has come to the fore in technical, economic, and political terms during the opening years of the 21st century.[3] The natural resource base for renewable energy is extraordinary by European, and even global standards, with the most important potential sources being wind, wave, and tide.

At the end of 2011, there was 4,796 megawatts (MW) of installed renewables electricity capacity in Scotland, an increase of 9.5 per cent (416 MW) on the end of 2010. Renewable electricity generation in 2011 was a record high at 13,750 GWh - an increase of 44.5 per cent on 2010. Around 35 per cent of Scotland’s electricity came from renewables in 2011, exceeding the Scottish Government’s target of 31 per cent. Scotland contributed almost 40 per cent of the UK’s renewables output in 2011.[4]

Continuing improvements in engineering and economics are enabling more of the renewable resources to be utilised. Fears regarding "peak oil" and climate change have driven the subject high up the political agenda and are also encouraging the use of various biofuels. Although the finances of many projects remain either speculative or dependent on market incentives, it is probable that there has been a significant, and in all likelihood long-term change, in the underpinning economics.[5]

In addition to planned increases in both large-scale generating capacity and microsystems using renewable sources, various related schemes to reduce carbon emissions are being researched.[6] Although there is significant support from the public, private and community-led sectors, concerns about the effect of the technologies on the natural environment have been expressed. There is also an emerging political debate about the relationship between the siting, and the ownership and control of these widely distributed resources.[7]

Nuclear power

When the UK Government announced an energy review in early 2006, the Scottish National Party (SNP) and others made clear their view that Scotland did not need new nuclear power stations.[8] By January 2008, when the UK Government gave the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations to be built across the UK, the SNP formed the Scottish Government and First Minister Alex Salmond made clear there was "no chance" of more nuclear power stations being built in Scotland.[9] The Government's stance was backed by the Scottish Parliament which voted 63-58 to support the Scottish Government's policy of opposing new nuclear power stations.[10]

Beauly-Denny power line

A proposed 400kV upgrade to the existing 132 kV transmission network, seen as key to future expansion[11] was held up in planning[12] for three years. There was vocal opposition from some sectors[13] and strong support from other sectors.[14] The proposed 220km circuit is to run from Beauly, west of Inverness to Denny, west of Falkirk.

In 2008, the first major independent study associated with the Scottish Government’s renewable energy targets concluded that the upgrade of the Beauly-Denny power line will be a key to future development.[15]

In January 2010, the Scottish Government approved the upgrade to the Beauly to Denny transmission line.[16]

References

  1. ^ House of Commons Library Research Paper 03/84 p21
  2. ^ Scottish Parliament Committee News Release June 30 2004
  3. ^ See for example: Scottish Executive (2005) Choosing Our Future: Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy. Edinburgh.
  4. ^ "Scotland beats 2011 green energy target". The Scottish Government. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  5. ^ Monbiot, George (2006) Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning. London. Allen Lane.
  6. ^ "Peterhead hydrogen project". BP. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
  7. ^ HICEC. (2006) Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company Annual Review. (PDF). Inverness. Retrieved on 31 August 2007.
  8. ^ Call to halt nuclear power plans BBC January 23, 2006
  9. ^ New nuclear plants get go-ahead
  10. ^ MSPs vote No to new nuclear stations The Scotsman January 18, 2008
  11. ^ BWEA position on Beauly Denny Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  12. ^ Beauly Denny Public Inquiry website, Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  13. ^ Pylon Pressure website - Beauly Denny Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  14. ^ Friends of the Beauly Denny Power Line Upgrade
  15. ^ Power-line opponents dealt blow by independent study
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference news was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

See also

External links

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