UK, Scotland Energy Authorities Work on Connecting Scottish Islands to Mainland

Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing and UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey have jointly chaired a meeting of the Scottish Island Renewables Delivery Forum.

Key decision makers met yesterday to agree a timetable for practical action to connect Scotland’s islands to the mainland transmission grid and unlock their huge potential to generate clean energy.

Mr Ewing said:

“Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles can make a very substantial and cost-effective contribution to meeting the UK’s legally-binding renewable energy targets, and help safeguard our energy security. These issues cut to the very heart of the current energy debate and make the case for the development of renewable energy on the Scottish islands so compelling.

“The clear imperative is to put in place an action plan to enable delivery of grid connections and successful renewables projects on the islands – this is the objective of today’s meeting.”