Ministerial Working Group welcomes islands commitment

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has announced to island council leaders that he has received assurances of the UK Government’s commitment to continuing the Scottish Islands Renewable Delivery Forum (SIRDF).

The SIRDF was established in summer 2014 and has been co-chaired by the Scottish and UK Governments. Its purpose is to support the joint policy aim of delivering and connecting the huge renewable energy resources on Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles to the mainland electricity grid.

When the SIRDF last met in January 2015, the UK Government at the time committed to taking forward vital actions to support the work of the group. These include:

• the publication in July 2015 of important information relating to the level and availability of support for remote island wind generators
• securing State Aid approval for the support mechanism (Remote Island Wind Contracts for Difference) from the European Commission
• developing proposals to secure EU funding to help the Orkney marine sector overcome barriers to grid access

Mr Ewing met with representatives from the Scottish Islands today at the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group today in Glasgow. This meeting was chaired by Islands Minister Derek Mackay, and included Leaders and Chief Executive of the three Island Councils as well Minister for Environment and Climate Change Aileen McLeod and Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess.

The Working Group is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to the principle of local decision making, and the work we are taking forward with our island communities as part of the wider empowerment agenda. At today’s meeting discussions covered Energy (Renewables); Fuel Poverty; progress with commitments set out in the Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities prospectus; and the Islands Bill Consultation. On Fuel Poverty, the island council leaders welcomed the Scottish Government’s recognition of the difficulties facing island communities and the ongoing commitment to work with them in improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

Following the meeting Mr Ewing said:

“The new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has agreed to continue the work of her predecessor by co-chairing the next meeting of the Scottish Islands Delivery Forum during September, and has indicated an intention to pursue the necessary support mechanism for remote island wind. This assurance is a very important statement of continued intent – delivering island renewables and grid connections could have a transformational economic impact for island communities.

“The Delivery Forum has been instrumental in achieving further progress amongst the key players, and I look forward to continuing the work of the group. I was also pleased to have the opportunity to discuss this further today with council leaders at the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group, which takes a keen interest in work to deliver island renewables.”

Councillor Angus Campbell:

“I too welcome the confirmation that the Forum will continue. I was also pleased that Mr Ewing put forward a proposal to undertake a piece of work to assess the loss to the islands caused by lack of interconnectors. This refers particularly to the financial and environmental costs of diesel generation, downtime of community renewable infrastructure and the lost opportunities through lack of interconnector provision”.

Councillor Steven Heddle:

“Fuel poverty is a priority area for the islands councils. We are very pleased at the discussions in the Working Group today, where Margaret Burgess heard our concerns and learned of our record of developing innovative responses to the problem, tied in with our wider energy strategies.

“Already the Scottish Government has responded by increasing HEEPS:ABS funding in the islands by 20% per household, providing funding to achieve accredited installers and affording flexibility around delivery of heating schemes.

“We welcome all these measures and the commitment to work with us to islands proof new schemes of this nature and on new initiatives we will bring forward. This will allow proper account to be taken of our climate and the distinct profile of our housing stock.

“All of this is relevant to the work of the Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force, on which we were assured there will be islands representation.”

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