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Scotsman
4 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
The successes and challenges of Scotland's clean energy transition
Willie Cameron addresses delegates at the one-day conference in Inverness | Trevor Martin The Scotsman's Highlands & Islands Green Energy Conference held in Inverness shone a spotlight on the country's renewables targets and ambitions Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. 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... The Highlands & Islands Green Energy Conference, part of the Sustainable Scotland Green Series 2025 from The Scotsman, was held recently in Inverness, placing the spotlight on the country's renewables targets and ambitions. The live event on 22 May delivered a packed agenda of discussion on challenges and opportunities faced by Scotland in the green energy transition. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Headline sponsor of the conference was SSEN Transmission, keynote sponsor was Fred Olsen Renewables, and associate sponsor was Vattenfall. There were a number of panel sessions and keynotes across the day, covering such areas as financing and investment in green energy projects in the Highlands; unlocking the economic potential of renewable energy; powering the future: scaling up renewables and strengthening the grid, as well as green skills and education. The event was hosted by Willie Cameron, founding director of the Cobbs group of companies and a board member at Highland CIC. Starting proceedings, he said: 'I've had the privilege of dedicating much of my life to championing the Highlands of Scotland, its people, its landscapes and its future –from tourism and heritage, to business and now to green energy. My mission has always been the same – to help this extraordinary place thrive in a way that respects its roots and embraces the road ahead. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'As an ambassador for international trade for many years, I've been proud to help showcase the Highlands to the world, not only as a destination rich in history and hospitality, but increasingly as a hub for innovation in green energy. 'Our region has a deep and proud heritage of hydroelectric power with pioneering projects dating back over a century. That legacy inspires my vision for what comes next, because we are not starting from scratch. We are building on a foundation laid by those who understood that energy, when harnessed thoughtfully, could transform lives and communities. Cameron continued: 'Today we stand at the dawn of a new chapter. The Highlands are on the cusp of greatness. The winds that sweep across our glens, the tides that move through our locks and coasts, the sun that shines over our straths, these are not just features of our landscapes, they are the fuels of our future 'But if we are truly to realise that future, we must do it 'the Highland way', with integrity, collaboration and a deep respect for the land that sustains us. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Sustainable development is not just a buzzword, it's a responsibility. And it's an opportunity to create green jobs for our young people, to support rural communities, to keep our schools, our businesses and our culture alive.' Cameron concluded: 'Let us move forward with ambition, let us be bold, let us continue to position the Highlands as a world leader in green innovation, rooted in our history, powered by our landscape and driven by our people.' In the keynote address, Martin Johnson, director of strategy and regional economy at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), took delegates through some recently published research focusing on regional transformation opportunities. He explained that various bodies, such as local authorities, HIE and Skills Development Scotland, are all working in the renewable energy space and other sectors. They all knew they were looking at something very big, but nobody had an aggregate picture of 'what did big look like'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Therefore through the Regional Economic Partnership (REP), which in the Highlands and Islands is made up of the likes of its university, HIE, Prosper, and local authorities, a piece of work was commissioned to help unlock the potential that exists in the area. It focused on sectors believed to have the opportunity to be regionally transformational, such as green hydrogen, onshore and offshore wind and marine energy. Johnson said: 'We identified roughly 250 projects at different stages from that list of sectors. If all those projects come to pass, we're looking at something like the private sector investing £100 billion of capital expenditure in our region over the next 15 years. That will add about £77bn to the Scotland and UK economy. 'During the development, construction and the implementation stages of these projects, we're looking at 100,000 or so 'job years'. At its peak, we reckon the build-out of these projects will require 16,000 people working to make that happen. 'Once these projects get to a steady state and become operational, we'll be adding about 18,000 full-time jobs to the economy.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Breaking down investment by location, the research identified clusters of activity. It also looked at different scenarios and the key vagaries that feed into projects, such as headwinds and the electricity grid. For example, Johnson pointed out that SSEN has confirmed it is to invest some £22bn in upgrading the grid across Scotland, which has reduced connection risks. The research also examined the implications of projects in terms of people. It considered where the required workforce with the appropriate skills will come from and where they will be accommodated. Johson told the event: 'The Regional Economic Partnership, at the same time as we were doing this research, did a piece of work that's now an economic strategy and action plan for the Highlands and Islands. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We know that we're going to have to focus on how we grow the economy, how we collaborate with the private sector to develop housing, how we attract the skilled workforce, and on transport and infrastructure.' In another speech, Yvonne Crook, Chair of Highland CIC, covered what needs to happen to ensure a 'just transition' for the Highlands, socially, economically, environmentally, and in terms of infrastructure. She explained: '[We]began four years ago with a vision rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Highlands, one that inspires us to transform our landscape responsibly and inclusively, sustainably, and with ambition. 'As we prepare to harness the scale of investment, this vision is guiding us to ensure we can leave the greatest legacy possible for future generations.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are embracing the United Nations sustainable development goals as a framework for a comprehensive and balanced approach to sustainable development in this period of transformational change. Crook added: 'Our goal is to inspire a sustainable future, while putting the Highlands onto the global stage, showcasing our ambition and our leadership. innovation, collaboration and transformative change.' She referred to the wide-ranging attractions on offer across the Highlands and its strength in various sectors, and listed the region's hydropower facilities; its infrastructure of ports and harbours providing significant opportunities for growth and development; the Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport, which provides the opportunity to establish the region as an innovative green trade hub, as well as other transformational renewable energy projects. Crook enthused: 'What an inspiration it's been to be working with colleagues, businesses, and community leaders who realise the scale of this opportunity for the Highlands and want to be part of leaving the greatest legacy we can for the future.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We realise our hills and lochs are not just picturesque scenery, they're the driving force behind our renewable energy sources. 'Our vision is to promote the Highlands as an enriching experience set within a dramatic natural environment, where energy innovation and thriving local communities are at the heart of our story. 'Together with community and business leaders we have a significant opportunity to map a just transition. One driven by ambition and shared purpose that balances growth with sustainability and ensures the Highlands have prosperity for generations.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Solar farm scheme will be 'well contained'
Councillors in the Borders have agreed not to object to a large solar park being proposed for the Lammermuir Hills in Berwickshire. Fred Olsen Renewables has applied to the government's Energy Consents Unit for permission to put up about 55,000 panels near the Crystal Rig wind farm - about four miles (6km) from the village of Cranshaws. Scottish Borders Council (SBC) planning committee agreed not to oppose the scheme in the Lammermuir Hills Special Landscape Area. Berwickshire councillor Donald Moffat said he felt the proposals would be quite well screened from general public view. More stories from South Scotland Listen to news for the Scottish Borders on BBC Sounds "Where these solar panels are being proposed for - unless you are actually going up to drive through the area you won't see anything," he said. "It is something that is going to be well contained within the plateau. "I didn't see any reason to go against this and actually all our officers were all quite happy about this." SBC is being consulted on the project but due to the scale of the development the final say will lie with the Scottish government. Light concerns over wind farm plans
