Wind farm boom over as subsidy by bill payers ends
THE relentless spread of wind farms across Scotland will be brought to an end this week as the UK Government announces a withdrawal of subsidies.
Energy Secretary Amber Rudd is to unveil plans to end the levy on consumers’ fuel bills to fund subsidies for onshore wind turbine developments.
It will cut bills and bring a sudden halt to the rapid expansion of wind farms in Scotland by making them financially unfeasible.
But the move will spark a row with the Scottish Government, which believes wind farm subsidies are essential if Scotland is to meet its green energy targets. A senior Tory source said an announcement will be made on the issue in the Commons this week.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had hoped she could secure an opt-out for Scotland, which would allow subsidies funded by higher bills to continue north of the Border, but it is understood her proposal has been rejected by the UK Government.
Ahead of the announcement, Miss Rudd said: ‘We promised people clean, affordable and secure energy supplies and that’s what I’m going to deliver.
‘We’ll focus support on renewables when they’re starting up – getting a good deal for billpayers is the top priority.’
It has yet to be decided if the withdrawal of subsidies applies to all new wind farms, or if those that have already received planning consent will still be eligible for funds.
Officials are concerned that failure to provide funds to consented schemes could lead to legal action from developers.
The number of turbines in Scotland has rocketed in recent years as a result of the SNP’s green energy crusade. Scotland now has one of the highest densities of wind farms in the world.
Alex Salmond championed onshore wind when First Minister, leading to a dispute with US tycoon Donald Trump, who said his ‘obsession’ with wind was ‘ruining Scotland’.
The Scottish Government has a target in place for the equivalent of 100 per cent of Scotland’s electricity to come from green energy by 2020, compared to only 30 per cent across the UK as a whole, and Ministers see onshore wind as a crucial element.
Onshore wind farms already produce 7.1 gigawatts (GWs) and farms under construction would provide a further 0.5GWs. Farms producing a further 8.2GWs have been approved and the provision of a further 4GWs awaits consent. That exceeds the 14 to 16GWs the Scottish Government says it needs to generate 100 per cent of electricity by 2020.
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘When subsidies are cut, we will still see some onshore wind projects going ahead but it won’t be at the same rate.
‘If people see some onshore wind development continuing without subsidy they will be a lot happier about it than they are now.’