Bright future for renewables

Two-thirds of rural Scots are reported to support onshore wind farm developments and there has been a call from some MSPs for Westminster to re-introduce financial support so more green energy projects can go ahead.

Critically, there has never been a stronger argument that we need to cut carbon pollution and get green. The 2015 Paris climate agreement set a target of no more than 2°C global warming above pre-industrial temperatures, but also an aspirational target of no more than 1.5°C.

The Scottish Government has an ambitious target of 100% of gross annual electricity consumption to come from renewables by 2020. And we’re already making huge strides in reaching this target.

Figures released earlier this year demonstrate renewable electricity generation in Scotland in 2017 increased by 26% on the previous year, and 14% on the previous record year in 2015, making 2017 a record year for renewable electricity generation.

For the first time ever, Scotland has more than 10GW of installed renewable capacity with a further 10.9GW of projects in planning or already consented.

Following the removal of subsidy support for established renewable technologies, it’s been a challenging couple of years for those of us working in the renewables sector, but the industry is rising to the challenge of developing the next generation of large-scale green energy.

To enable this, better grid connections, infrastructure (from wind farm access roads to electric car charging points), smarter technology and storage must be taken into consideration and planned on a holistic scale.

The Scottish Government’s Scottish Energy Strategy, which is intended to inform energy strategy until 2050, also takes a ‘whole system’ approach to meet the ambitious renewable energy targets with emphasis on the social and environmental benefits of moving to a low-carbon economy.

At Bidwells, we believe that there is a bright horizon for the renewables industry.

There are clear advancements in developing technologies. Beatrice in the Moray Firth – once fully operational in 2019 – will be Scotland’s largest bottom-fixed offshore wind farm and our waters are already home to the world’s first floating offshore wind farm, Hywind in the north east, with others waiting in the wings.

The offshore wind industry has become more established and cost competitive in recent years and we are currently involved in advising clients affected by the onshore grid connections.

Established technologies are continuing to develop too. The onshore wind sector is responding to changing economic circumstances by developing more efficient hardware. Turbine sizes are increasing with structures in excess of 4MW currently being installed.

Schemes in the development process are being designed with increased tip heights, in some cases up to and in excess of 200 metres where the landscape characteristics are capable of hosting these developments.

Technological improvements will allow battery storage to be designed into the new generation of wind farms – both improving the efficiency of the scheme and contributing to balancing the grid.

Whilst there remains focus on identifying new wind opportunities, the next decade will see a number of the early wind farms ready for replacement with modern schemes.

Where these projects may have delivered a relatively low capacity from many turbines, the advances in technology should result in a muchimproved output from the same site.

Of course, the lease agreements for these sites will also need to be renegotiated.

Both on and offshore there is opportunity to enhance, develop and succeed in delivering a greener future for Scotland.

Figures show that 2017 was a record year for renewable electricity generation in Scotland.