14/05/2012
Scotland’s third-largest wind farm and a new hydro-power station in Perthshire were showcased to members of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee today. The first of three visits across Scotland, this will inform the Renewables Inquiry, launched by the Committee in January.
Committee Convener Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“The purpose of this Inquiry is to determine if the Scottish Government’s target of 100 per cent electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020 is achievable.
"By seeing a major wind farm and a series of hydro-power developments in action, it has given the Committee first-hand experience of how this type of technology operates.
“If the Scottish Government is going to meet its challenging target, we are going to see a lot more of these types of developments across Scotland.
"Therefore it’s important that MSPs get up-close-and-personal in order to see what’s involved.”
The Committee visited Griffin Wind Farm near Aberfeldy operated by SSE.
MSPs also had the opportunity to see a range of new hydro-power developments in Glen Lyon operated by Green Highland Renewables.
Ian Cartwright, managing director of Green Highland Renewables, said:
“We are delighted that the Committee visited Glen Lyon today to see the new 807 kW Roroyere hydropower station in action.
“In the lower half of Glen Lyon there should eventually be a total of seven schemes, four of which have already been constructed and commissioned and Green Highland Renewables anticipate being involved with the construction of the remaining three schemes.
“From their visit the Committee can appreciate the suitability of hydro for this type of environment, the low impact of the scheme, and the potential that developments such as this have to contribute to Scotland’s ambitious renewable energy target.”
Background
The Committee launched its Renewables Inquiry into the achievability of the Scottish Government’s new revised targets within its 2020 Routemap for Renewable Energy; specifically the challenging target that Scotland would generate the equivalent of 100 per cent of Scotland’s own electricity demand from renewable resources by 2020.
The Committee’s final report is expected to be published in the autumn after it has concluded evidence taking and consideration.
Other visits to take place during this inquiry include a visit by MSPs to Orkney to look at marine energy developments and to Fife to look at the offshore wind energy industry and to visit a local college that is active in training the new workforce.