EC To Grant More Than GBP100 Million Funds For Wind Farm And Transmission Project In Scotland

Published: 05-Oct-2009

European Commission (EC) will provide more than GBP100 million for two green enery projects in Scotland, news.scotsman.com reported. The commission will grant GBP37 million for a planned offshore wind power project in Aberdeen coast and another GBP47 million for a transmission project off the north coast of Scotland. The funding will be formally announced in later October 2009.

Vattenfall AB and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group's planned offshore wind farm will receive GBP37 million. Initially, the companies planned to install 23 turbines up to three miles out in the sea, but later this year it announced that the scheme will be scaled down in the wake of helicopter safety and the impact on the marine environment.

A further GBP67 million will go towards a transmission hub to be built by Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE). The transmission hub will be attached to a cable linking Shetland and mainland Scotland and will pave the way for the mass development of renewables in the Pentland Firth and on Shetland.

Both the projects are yet to receive planning permission.

The funding will go some way to lift Scotland's disappointment that the EC has decided not to provide funding towards ScottishPower's carbon capture and storage system at Longannet Power Station in Fife.

WWF Scotland, an environmentalist group, Director Dr Richard Dixon said that both projects were very important.

"This is a vote of confidence from Europe in Scotland's huge renewable potential so that's a very positive sign," Dixon said.

The funding recommendations will be considered by member states before being offically announced.

SSE Spokeswoman said "If it's the case that we are getting the funding then it's very welcome because it's a good news story for renewable energy being connected off the north-east coast, including the Pentland Firth." A spokeswoman for the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm added that she was "optimistic".

A Scottish government spokesman said that he hoped it will be possible to bring in GBP100 million of investment in Scotland.

The Scottish government spokesman further said that "Nonetheless we are disappointed in the possible decision on Longannet but it remains a strong contender in the UK CCS competition, and we hope that this will be recognised."

Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland George Lyon said "This is good news. Scotland has the potential to be Europe's renewables powerhouse, and this money will help unlock that potential."

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