Latest news with #ScottishandSouthernElectricityNetworks
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Eyes on Skye for wind farm inquiry as campaigners call for freeze on Net Zero developments
The old man of Storr on the Isle of Skye. | DenisaV - Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... It is an island that has landed the title of being the most visited place in Scotland outside Edinburgh because of its outstanding beauty. But as the tourist season is well under way, the Isle of Skye is set to go under the spotlight with a more industrial focus. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Plans to double the size of a wind farm's turbines, visible from the island's popular hill The Storr, which saw some 274,000 visitors in 2023, are heading to a public inquiry later this month. While many things have changed, Skye's scenery and landmarks such as the Old Man of Storr, have remained the same | JeffThe hearing was triggered after Highland Council objected to the Ben Aketil wind farm plans, twice, citing adverse environmental and visual impacts. Campaigners have said the decision out of the inquiry will 'set a precedent' for what's to come for the island, which faces another nine wind farm developments that have either been approved, are in planning or to waiting to be extended or repowered. One of the proposed new windfarms includes a site at Glen Ullinish seeking permission for 47 turbines 200m high. The Skye Bridge, for context, is 35m high at its highest point. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Highland Council also objected to these proposals last year and developers are in the process of revising the layout. As well as hundreds of turbines, onshore wind developments come with plans proposed for a new quay at the island's Loch Caroy on the eastern shore of Skye to deliver large wind turbine components to the island for planned wind farm projects. Meanwhile, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) proposals to upgrade overhead lines and pylons for the grid network on Skye are also awaiting confirmation after the plans were objected to by Highland Council. The company has already seen permission granted for two large substations and plans have been lodged for workers' camps to house hundreds of workers to work on the developments. Martyn Ayre and fellow Broadford residents and protesters at the site of the proposed SSE camp. | Willie Urquhart/WHFP Ahead of the inquiry, a letter addressed to first minister John Swinney, signed by more than 20 different community groups across Scotland, has called for a freeze on further windfarm developments and related projects over what some campaigners have previously described as 'a wild west approach' in the race to reach Net Zero goals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The letter, led by the Skye Windfarm Information Group (SWIG), reads: 'We are calling for an immediate moratorium regarding all further wind farm decisions and related infrastructure. 'The purpose of a wind farm is to efficiently generate sustainable energy at a reasonable cost. That is not the case under the current policy approach—this is evident in our electricity bills. 'We are citizens from across Scotland who are deeply concerned about the direction the government has taken in managing the renewable energy transition in recent years. We believe this transition is being mishandled and driven by misguided incentives.' The inquiry, which begins on June 23, is looking at proposals to replace Ben Aketil's existing 12 turbines at 100m to nine larger ones. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Plans submitted by the developer Renantis, which rebranded as Nadara last year, show the turbines could have a maximum blade tip height of 200m. In submissions for the upcoming hearing, campaigners have raised concern about the socio-economic impact of Ben Aketil on the island in the last two decades. According to the developer's Companies House records, figures show in 16 years from when the wind farm was commissioned to 31 December 2023, the development has generated a turnover of about £139million with profits of just over £60million in that same time frame. Of this profit, records show almost £51million has been paid in dividends to the company's shareholders. Meanwhile community donation paid by the company to local groups on Skye were £732,000. This equates to £1,685 per MW of installed capacity, falling significantly short of the Scottish Government's guidance of £5,000 per MW of installed capacity. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Planning documents also show only 1.2 jobs will be created on Skye when the newly proposed development is operational. Daniel Letch, a project manager for Ben Aketil Wind Farm, said the project has provided community benefit funding each year which has supported a wide range of initiatives including an ambulance response vehicle, pontoons in Loch Dunvegan and forest lessons for a local primary school. Mr Letch said the company was the first in Scotland to offer people the opportunity to invest in their local wind farm by setting up Isle of Skye Renewables Co-operative, which has 570 members who receive an annual financial return from the wind farm. He added: 'The co-operative also distributes community benefit funding to projects across the whole island of Skye – over £1.5 million since 2008 – and we encourage residents to continue to come forward with suggestions of ways Community Support can most benefit Skye for the years to come.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The need for future applications for renewable developments was also questioned in the letter to the first minister, with campaigners claiming there is currently enough to meet the country's needs. The SWIG letter, signed by other groups including Hands of our Hills, based in Dumfries and Galloway, Save Caithness and Scotland Against Spin, added: 'The data clearly shows—beyond doubt—that enough renewable developments have already been built or consented to cover both Scotland's peak electricity demand in 2050 and the full export capacity to England. 'The government must take these facts into account and provide a clear explanation to the public. 'After all, it is the public who are financing a significant portion of these investments. The current policy has created adverse incentives. Applications for new wind farms are now being submitted at an unprecedented scale. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This overwhelms local councillors and places considerable strain on the democratic planning process. Planning officers have also raised concerns in many areas of Scotland. This situation must be reviewed and addressed.' Industry leaders, however, have previously argued future developments are to feed a growing demand in electricity in the future rather than what is being used currently. In response to the letter, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We understand and appreciate the concerns raised by the groups who have signed the letter. Ministers certainly agree that Scotland's energy should benefit people in Scotland people first and foremost. 'We also share many of the concerns expressed about UK policies which are not designed to benefits local communities nor Scotland as a whole. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'In relation to a moratorium, it is not clear that Scottish Ministers would have the necessary legal powers even if such a decision were considered appropriate.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents hear explosions as fire erupts from manholes
Residents have reported hearing explosions after manhole covers were "blown open" by an underground fire. Footage showed flames emerging from a manhole near The Victoria Cross pub in Parkstone, Dorset. The blaze, which was reported at about 12:30 BST, also caused a power cut in and around Ashley Road, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said. The power supply should be restored by midnight, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said. The fire service said the blaze was extinguished by 14:10. In a statement, it said: "A crew from Westbourne attended and an underground fire was identified, which had affected at least four manhole covers and caused some loss of power in the immediate area. Ashley Road was closed at its junction with Mansfield Road and Victoria Road, and people were advised to avoid the area. Residents in a local Facebook group reported hearing explosions "like gunfire" when manhole covers flew off. SSEN said the power cut was confined to streets in the immediate area, including Ashley Road, Mansfield Road and Victoria Road. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
BBC News
24-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Manhole fire near Parkstone pub closes road
Residents have reported hearing explosions after manhole covers were "blown open" by an underground showed flames emerging from a manhole near The Victoria Cross pub in Parkstone, blaze, which was reported at about 12:30 BST, also caused a power cut in and around Ashley Road, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service power supply should be restored by midnight, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said. The fire service said the blaze was extinguished by 14: a statement, it said: "A crew from Westbourne attended and an underground fire was identified, which had affected at least four manhole covers and caused some loss of power in the immediate area. Ashley Road was closed at its junction with Mansfield Road and Victoria Road, and people were advised to avoid the in a local Facebook group reported hearing explosions "like gunfire" when manhole covers flew said the power cut was confined to streets in the immediate area, including Ashley Road, Mansfield Road and Victoria Road. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hundreds without electricity after power cut
About 700 homes have been left without electricity after a power cut in Hampshire. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it was aware of "damage to our network by a third party", affecting 679 homes in Park Gate and Sarisbury Green. The incident was originally reported at about 12:15 BST. SSEN said it was aiming to restore power to the homes by 19:00, after previously giving a resolution time of 16:30. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. SSEN
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North of Scotland electricity network to have £450m upgrade
The electricity network in the north of Scotland will be improved with a £450m investment by the end of the decade, an energy firm has announced. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said the work would create at least 300 skilled jobs. SSEN also said it would make existing supplies "more resilient" and support decarbonisation of communities and industry by connecting solar panels and heat pumps to the network. The areas covered include Dundee, Aberdeen, the Highlands and all of Scotland's islands. The investment will see the existing network of wooden poles and overhead lines upgraded, substations updated, and improvements to the underground network. Fraser Wilson of SSEN said the investment would offer a "real refresh". He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We will be making it more reliable, replacing equipment that's already there, giving it more capacity, so when people want to connect to the network the power for them will be there. "The whole system at distribution level, which is what goes into homes and businesses, will be refurbished and refreshed." SSEN said the investment would tackle climate change by helping homes move away from fossil fuels, by connecting EVs and heat pumps to the system. Mr Wilson added the upgrade programme could require roadworks or temporary interruptions to power supply. Five companies - OCU Utility Services Ltd, Clancy Ltd, Freedom Group Ltd, Macaulay Askernish Ltd and Brush Group - will be contract partners for the investment. Fraser Hood, SSEN's director of large capital delivery, said this would "reduce supply chain risks and secure specialist skills." Gillian Martin, the Scottish government's energy secretary, said the investment would "bring benefits for our workforce, our supply chains, and our regional and national economies". She added: "Decarbonising Scotland's economy depends heavily on significant investment in the upkeep and futureproofing of our electricity system, so the network can meet the demand from users now and in the future." What is a heat pump and how much do they cost? No legal requirement to update heating in new bill An energy efficient home - why is it so difficult?
