logo
Sign up for our new, free newsletter from Scottish Energy Experts

Sign up for our new, free newsletter from Scottish Energy Experts

The Nationala day ago
Three writers, who previously wrote the Three Engineers column, will focus in on Scotland's energy landscape for this new newsletter, which will be free to receive for both subscribers and casual readers of The National.
The experts are:
Simon Forrest, CEO of world-leading marine energy firm Nova Innovation
Dick Winchester, oil industry veteran known for his regular writing at Energy Voice
John Proctor, former global director of special projects at Intergen with 43 years of experience in energy generation. He is now convener of Energy Scotland, an association of Scottish-based energy professionals focused on responding to Scotland's energy challenges
Scotland has some of the highest energy bills in Europe. Why is this, when we have an abundance of energy resources at our fingertips?
That is the central premise of the Energy Experts newsletter.
Our three industry leaders, whose expertise spans renewables, oil and gas, will examine the biggest problems in the energy sector and how Scotland can respond to them – with a particular focus on the difference that independence could make.
The newsletter will explore issues like:
How do Scots respond to rising energy costs and make sure that we truly benefit from the renewables revolution?
What's the story with the increasing hostility towards renewable developments in the Highlands and Islands?
Why are we paying to turn off wind farms?
Why don't politicians want zonal pricing?
What policies should we turn to if we want to make the most of our energy-rich nation?
After Grangemouth's closure, how can we ensure a genuinely just transition?
Readers can also pop their questions on all things energy in the comments.
Forrest will be the first of the experts to write the newsletter next week, and you can expect to receive your updates from the team on the last Friday of each month.
Sign up here for free. Subscribers can also read the edition online or in print each month.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Huge Scottish forest sold for £145m to Gresham House investors in 'astronomical' sale
Huge Scottish forest sold for £145m to Gresham House investors in 'astronomical' sale

Scotsman

time9 minutes ago

  • Scotsman

Huge Scottish forest sold for £145m to Gresham House investors in 'astronomical' sale

The sale illuminates the demand for Scotland's asset-rich landscapes. Sign up to our Scotsman Rural News - A weekly of the Hay's Way tour of Scotland emailed direct to you. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A forest estate in Scotland has been sold to asset managers for £145 million in one of the biggest deals of its kind. Griffin Forestry Estate, near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, which spans some 5,560 hectares, has been bought by a subsidiary of Gresham House Ltd, a London-based asset management company now owned by a private equity firm headquartered in New York. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Griffin Forestry Estate near Aberfeldy in Perthshire. PIC: Savills. | Savills Griffin Forestry Estate is made up of three separate woodlands and a windfarm. The land was marketed by Savills in 2023 for offers over £130m given its 'exceptional sustainability and income credentials'. The sale of Griffin illuminates the demand for Scotland's asset-rich landscapes and the 'astronomical sums' paid by 'anonymous corporate investors' for the land, Community Land Scotland said. Meanwhile, Andy Wightman, Scotland's land ownership expert, said he believed that Gresham House and its subsidiaries could now be 'on track' to become Scotland's second-largest landowner following the Griffin deal, with his latest research into the company due. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Wightman said: 'It is a unique property as it is so huge and has such valuable assets. This is a straightforward commercial transaction where £145m is deemed to be the price worth paying for that future stream of revenue from windpower and timber.' Griffin Forestry Estate was originally part of the Grandtully Estate and was earlier owned by Guy Hands, an investment manager and former chairman of record company EMI. The new owner is Gresham House FF VI LLP, a limited liability partnership between Gresham House Initial Partner Ltd and Gresham House Forest Fund VI LP, a Scottish Limited Partnership that includes City of Cardiff Pension Fund, Swansea Council Pension Fund and Gresham House Ltd among its limited partners. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr Josh Doble, director of policy and advocacy at Community Land Scotland , said the sale was another 'concerning example of landownership concentrating in Scotland into the hands of anonymous corporate investors'. He said: 'This sale also sets the remarkable and quite unbelievable precedent that an average sized Highland estate can sell for astronomical sums, which seem completely removed from the reality of many Highland communities who are in dire need of investment in local housing, travel infrastructure and local services. READ MORE: Owner of Scottish castle heads to court amid Net Zero tree planting row 'This disparity raises the serious question of who is benefiting from Scotland's natural resources and how a remote corporate entity such as Gresham House can justify an apparent investment of £145 million in a Highland estate, and how much of that investment will be benefiting the local area.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr Doble said he hoped the new owners would 'closely and meaningfully engage' with the local community about their plans for the estate and what benefits would be shared with the local community. In February last year, Olly Hughes, managing director of Gresham House, appeared before the net zero, energy and transport committee at Holyrood and told MSPs the company did 'not own any land directly under the name of Gresham House'. However, it is understood the firm and its subsidiaries are namd as General Partner in a number of Scottish Limited Partnerships (SLP) - legal entities which can own land.

'I took a driverless taxi in LA as tech giants prepare to bring them to UK'
'I took a driverless taxi in LA as tech giants prepare to bring them to UK'

Daily Mirror

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

'I took a driverless taxi in LA as tech giants prepare to bring them to UK'

An army of driverless 'robotaxis' is heading for UK shores after taking to the roads in the US - the Mirror's Jeremy Armstrong took one for a spin in Los Angeles An army of 'robotaxis' is heading for Britain next year after taking to the roads in the US. ‌ Baidu has partnered its Apollo Go taxi business with Lyft, one of Uber's main rivals. It is said to be planning a self-driving taxi service in the UK and Germany in 2026, with competition from a number of international rivals. The Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle initiative is already testing a self-driving, emissions-free shuttle. It ferries passengers between three sites on public roads, a first for the North east. But driverless taxis have been a common sight in America since 2020, with millions of journeys completed across several different cities. ‌ ‌ The Mirror did a 'test ride' of the driverless Waymo taxis in LA to see what lies in store for UK road users and passengers. A strange sight greeted me shortly after arrival on US soil. On the way from Los Angeles airport, during the short 20-minute drive to Venice Beach, a Jaguar I-Pace fully electric SUV pulled up next to my vehicle at a traffic light. I spotted the 'Noddy style' hat on the roof straight away, and a woman passenger in the back. There was no driver, and that became a familiar scene on roads across the sprawling metropolis. It is a strange sight for any new arrival from the UK. There remains opposition to the technology, with the US refusing entry to Chinese-based operators in the country from 2027. But California-based Waymo has carried passengers on millions of journeys across America. And this is what lies in store for a road near you soon. My early morning departure from Newcastle meant a conventional taxi journey from a city centre suburb to the airport. My cabbie told me about the rise of Uber; he estimated there were thousands on the roads around the city. ‌ Any notion of a chat with the driver disappears when you climb into a Waymo. The first issue to tackle is getting aboard. Handles are retractable and flush with the door until you press the 'unlock the door' in the App (you can also enable automatic door unlocking). ‌ As you climb inside, and take your seat, the computer generated female voice asks if you are ready to start your journey. You are reminded to remain in the car unless there is an 'urgent need to exit'. There is then the surreal vision of the steering wheel moving around as if guided by an invisible driver. It reminded me of the 1971 Hollywood classic "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", when inanimate objects are brought to life by magic. ‌ My trip (you can take up to three passengers) was taking me through the quiet residential streets of Venice Beach, and a four-lane, mile-long street full of shops, bars, restaurants, and my destination, a coffee shop. You spin through the traffic at a very sedate pace and cross lanes to get in line, waiting at traffic lights to make a turn. There is an arrival time given, very similar to the Uber experience, and a map of the route to the destination. ‌ It takes a matter of minutes to download the app, order a cab and get underway. You can follow the arrival of your £130,000 Waymo Jag via your mobile phone, and track the planned route as you travel. ‌ It is a very relaxed ride, at a slow and steady pace, once you get used to the sight of the self turning steering wheel. We turn right at a busy junction before making our way to another set of lights for a left turn. This time the tight turn involves the navigation of a busy set of lights and a brief wait to make way, all with the use of satellite technology, sensors, and onboard cameras. We didn't get over 20-25 mph; the ride took a matter of minutes, covered under 2kms and cost $10 (£7.43). Most unusually for LA, they didn't ask for a tip. ‌ There is a strict no drink and drugs policy onboard, though how they check on the sobriety of passengers is unclear. There is a reminder to make sure that you have all your belongings as you alight, and then the driverless cab heads off for its next passenger. The key question is whether you would feel safe on an LA Freeway, UK motorway or navigating a bustling London street? That may be the key test for driverless passengers in the UK next year.

Solar farm officially opened at Edinburgh Airport
Solar farm officially opened at Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Reporter

time5 hours ago

  • Edinburgh Reporter

Solar farm officially opened at Edinburgh Airport

A solar farm has been constructed right next to the runway at Edinburgh Airport and it was officially opened by Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes on Wednesday. The farm extends to 11 acres and will provide more than a quarter of the airport's electricity. Edinburgh Airport has been using the power source since last year and has run solely on solar power on several occasions during the daytime. This is the first project of its kind in Scotland supported by the Scottish Government who funded it with a £2.1 million grant to decarbonise the business. The airport bosses say they are working hard to reduce emissions from the airport in line with their own net zero by 2030 goal. Emissions have been reduced by 90% since 2019. Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said: 'Making sure we have a sustainable future is one of our most important goals, and it's important that we innovate and harness technology that can help deliver that for the airport. 'The introduction of the UK's first airfield solar farm is a key part of our Greater Good sustainability strategy, delivering almost 27% of our energy needs and diversifying our energy mix – and we are proud to be an airport that continues to look to innovative solutions to meet our goals. 'It also demonstrates how government and the private sector can work together to help deliver a more sustainable Scotland alongside, in our case, the benefits of air travel and connectivity to the economy.' Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: 'The Scottish Government is committed to working with the private sector to accelerate Scotland's transition to a net zero future. Edinburgh Airport's solar farm is a fantastic example of how government support, combined with private sector appetite and expertise, can deliver real and lasting change. 'By generating clean energy on site, this pioneering project is not only helping one of the country's most important transport hubs cut emissions but also supporting green jobs, energy resilience and sustainable economic growth. I am proud that Scottish Government funding has played a part in making this vision a reality and showing the kind of leadership we need on the journey to net zero.' The airport worked with solar experts AMPYR Solar Europe (ASE) to develop, fund and operate the project. Tarun Agrawal, CEO of AMPYR Solar Europe said: 'In constructing this solar park, ASE is pleased to have partnered with Edinburgh Airport in support of its 'Greater Good' sustainability strategy. 'The Edinburgh Airport project is the first of 6 major solar, BESS and on-shore wind investment projects that AMPYR shareholders have made in Scotland, making them one of the most significant inward investors into the Scottish renewables sector. The commitment shown by Scottish Government has critically provided certainty and confidence, and we look forward to contributing further to Scotland's energy transition. 'The Edinburgh Airport solar farm further strengthens ASE's PV and BESS asset footprint in the UK, and reflects our continuing growth as a leading European IPP with world class assets in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.' Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes during a visit to the solar farm at Edinburgh Airport. PHOTO Lesley Martin Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes during a visit to the solar farm at Edinburgh Airport. PHOTO Lesley Martin Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes during a visit to the solar farm at Edinburgh Airport. PHOTO Lesley Martin Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes during a visit to the solar farm at Edinburgh Airport. PHOTO Lesley Martin Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes during a visit to the solar farm at Edinburgh Airport. PHOTO Lesley Martin Like this: Like Related

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store