Community councils gather to oppose 'senseless' wind farm schemes
More than 200 community councils have signed a ‘unified statement’ on the issue
Community councils are to gather for a special convention later this month to demand a halt to “unplanned” green energy schemes such as wind farms in rural areas.
Warning the countryside is being “devastated” and “industrialised”, they want construction to be paused until a strategic energy plan for Scotland is put in place.
More than 200 community councils have signed a “unified statement” on the issue and a convention is being held in Fowlis Wester, near Crieff, on August 29.
It comes amid increasing friction over the location of renewable infrastructure such as wind farms and battery energy compounds.
The transition away from fossil fuels has left rural communities facing “more and more development”, campaigners warn, and many feel their views are being dismissed.
Jim McColl of East Strathearn Community Council in Perthshire said: "The pace and scale of development happening now is like nothing we've ever seen.
"There are eight wind farms in the pipeline in this small area, totalling 99 turbines, which would industrialise our precious countryside and seriously damage community life.
"That's not including the six wind farms already in operation and two further developments already approved, about to be built."
Bob Hope, a member of Leitholm, Eccles and Birgham Community Council in the Borders, who will be speaking at the Fowlis Wester event, said there was “growing anger over Scotland’s rush to construct more and more renewable energy infrastructure in some of our most treasured scenic places”.
He said: “The scale of unplanned, senseless development is unprecedented. The countryside is being devastated and the views of local people are dismissed time and time again.
“Why doesn’t the Scottish government protect our moors, glens, hills and mountains? These landscapes attract visitors from all over the world. It is only the Scottish government, seemingly, that doesn’t appreciate our natural environment.”
He added: “Just in the Scottish Borders alone there are over 600 wind turbines, each of them over 200 metres tall – the height of 44 double decker buses stacked on top of each other - not to mention all the vast battery energy storage systems.
“The Scottish government is giving the green light to more and more development, even though we already have far too much energy for our needs.
“The power can’t be used locally and can’t be exported to the rest of the UK. Meanwhile big energy companies are being paid to turn off their turbines. It is a scandalous waste of taxpayers’ money and it has to stop.”
A convention on the issue will also be held in Shetland on Saturday, with Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael and SNP MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad expected to attend.
The community’s concerns were raised as UK and Scottish governments energy ministers Michael Shanks and Stephen Gethins were visited Cruachan Power Station in Argyll to highlight efforts to improve energy storage capacity.
Mr Shanks announced firms developing methods to store clean energy for days at a time can bid for £28 million of funding. The scheme will offer grants to support technologies such as advanced batteries and underground hydrogen storage.
Wind and solar are intermittent and storing excess power generated during windy or sunny weather continues to present challenges. The UK grid relies on options including gas-fired generation during periods when there is a lack of wind or sunlight.
The so-called ultra-long duration energy storage challenge, launched on Thursday, aims to back projects capable of storing electricity that can then be supplied to the grid for 100 hours of more – powering homes and businesses for at least four days.
Mr Shanks said: “Homegrown clean energy is our route to more affordable bills and energy security, and storing it for when we need it most is critical.
“By backing new cutting-edge battery technology and hydrogen storage with this £28 million grant, we will store more clean power, reduce reliance on expensive gas generation and deliver a more secure energy system.”
The project will have two main areas of focus – the development of new battery technologies capable of providing energy for more than 100 hours, which are yet to be commercialised at scale, and the development and testing of systems that store hydrogen underground and release it when needed.
UK ministers argue that reducing the country’s reliance on natural gas and its exposure to volatile global prices will bolster energy security, help tackle climate change and reduce cost-of-living pressures.
Science Minister Chris McDonald said: “When we unlock the potential of science and innovation, it can improve all of our lives. That is what this challenge is all about; using the world class scientific expertise that we have in the UK to benefit people in every postcode.
“Clean sources of power are vital to meeting our energy needs as a nation. If we can meet the challenge of storing energy from renewables, we will improve our energy security, bring down energy bills in the long-term, and leave all of us better off.”
Hydrogen UK chief executive Clare Jackson said: “Ultra-long duration energy storage is critical for ensuring the UK moves to a more secure, low-carbon energy system with lower costs for consumers and businesses.
“Hydrogen has a fundamental role to play in that future energy mix, providing a way to store renewable energy over long periods and use it when the system needs it most. Supporting the development of hydrogen storage alongside flexible power generation will be key to unlocking these benefits across the wider energy system.
“The Ultra-LDES Challenge is an important step towards developing the technologies and infrastructure the UK will need at scale, and we look forward to supporting the innovative hydrogen technologies that emerge.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.