Farmer hits out at order to switch off own energy
A LANDOWNER and investor has warned his renewable energy business faces going under after being ordered to switch off by an energy distributor carrying out upgrade to the electricity network.
Donald Houston, who has been running his Beinn Bhuidhe Energy small hydro electric scheme on the Ardnamurchan Estate, in the western Highlands, since the 1950s, says that Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks is spurning his green energy in favour of the “bonkers” use of diesel generators.
Mr Houston is one of the 500 small hydro power operators that produce almost one-fifth of renewable electricity output in Scotland, having diversified his hill sheep and cattle farm.
The firm generates renewable energy from two hydroelectric schemes and a wind turbine, supplying power to the area.
But SSEN is to disconnect the power supply to the 560 households in the whole of the Ardnamurchan peninsula for four weeks this autumn and again in 2023 and 2024, and will use the generators to supply the power.
That is to enable Forestry & Land Scotland to undertake felling operations in an area where power lines pass through.
Mr Houston has been told he cannot supply any power from his wind turbine or hydro scheme for the entire period.
SSEN says it understands his concerns and is looking to reach a compromise agreement, despite forestry work taking place only on weekdays from 9am to 5pm.
Mr Houston says he is being “crippled” by SSEN, which he says is spurning his green energy supplies during planned outage periods.
Mr Houston, a director of Beinn Bhuidhe Energy, said: “There is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to continue to put power into the Grid. SSEN is doing tree felling, but is cutting during the day, so we could still connect during night-time and weekends.
“It appears it is far too difficult and SSEN cannot be bothered. Any investment in renewable tech has wafer-thin margins. The banks aren’t giving us a pay holiday.
“We will potentially become insolvent. That is the commercial side of it. And then SSEN is putting generators in when it could be supplied by renewables. It is bonkers. And you have the commercial implications for us.”
Mr Houston said diesel generators produce twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as other fossil fuels and emit significant quantities of harmful pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and particulates. They are also one of the most expensive ways to generate power.
SSEN has in the past affirmed its commitment to “the use of renewables and energy storage to keep the power flowing for local communities” during periods of disconnection and to avoid unnecessary carbon emissions.
He has now asked Net Zero, Energy and Transport Secretary Michael Matheson and local MP Ian Blackford to intervene in the dispute.
Mr Houston said: “Not only is this environmental madness but this significant loss of income on our extremely marginal investments in renewable technologies will place our companies’ finances in jeopardy, with the possibility we will not be able to meet our financial obligations and will therefore become insolvent.”
Ardnamurchan Peninsula is the most westerly point of the British mainland, bounded by sea on three sides and is said to be home to Scotland’s “Big Five” of red deer, otters, golden eagles, red squirrels and seals.
Mr Houston added: “To achieve net zero on the farm and to provide an income stream outwith hill farming we have invested in excess of £5 million in renewable energy and associated schemes. Our vision is to be totally sustainable by generating our own power and making the most of all opportunities to recycle materials and minimise waste.
“We are net exporters of power and we rely on the income generated from our renewable energy schemes to support our farming business.
SSEN said that after discussions it has agreed to allow him to use a maximum of self-generated 50kw (kilowatt) on a trial basis, on a machine of his choice, while the mobile generators are in use.
An SSEN Distribution spokesman said: “We’re committed to delivering a secure and reliable supply of electricity to the homes and businesses across our network, with everyone’s safety being at the forefront of all we do.
“When work is being carried out close to our network, be that by our own teams or following an access request by a third party, it is often necessary to turn off the power to keep everyone safe – when this is the case, we will look to minimise disruption, and the most common way of doing this is by connecting temporary mobile generation.
“In this particular instance we have been in regular dialogue with Mr Houston since the outage was at its planning stage in an attempt to reach a solution that is agreeable for everyone concerned.”
SSEN is doing tree felling, but is cutting during the day, so we could still connect during night-time and weekends