Government must act now to ensure local communities profit from renewables

We are writing to call upon the Scottish Government to establish a mechanism to enable “subsidy free” community renewable schemes. It is great news to see a decline in costs of offshore wind schemes, but as good as they are, they are not involving ordinary people. Community renewable schemes are majorityowned and run by members of the public, democratically run and sharing benefits. This could apply to wind power, solar pv or micro-hydro. This should be done on a pilot scheme basis to begin with.

Renewable energy costs are declining, but developers still need long-term confidence to raise money from banks and investors. Westminster is doing very little to help. The Scottish Government could establish a back-up loan facility to give “top-up” payments for community renewable generators.

This could ensure that the generators received at least the income that they would do at present levels of wholesale power prices (around £45 per MWH). For example, any loans paid would be repaid when power prices rose above £45 per MWH. Long-term agreements could be made to do this with specific projects. This would present little risk to the public purse and would be a practical step to implement the Government’s green energy commitments.

(DR) DAVID TOKE Reader in Energy Politics Department of Politics and International Relations University of Aberdeen (PROF) PETER STRACHAN Robert Gordon University

Aberdeen (DR) KEITH BAKER School of Engineering and the

Built Environment Glasgow Caledonian University (DR) JELTE HARNMEIJER

School of Economics University of Edinburgh (PROF) BRIAN WYNNE Gartness, Balfron Station (DR) ABHISHEK AGARWAL Robert Gordon University

Aberdeen (DR) IAN FAIRLIE Edinburgh Community Solar

Cooperative Highbury, London

PETE ROCHE Editor No2, Nuclear Power Parkhead View, Edinburgh JON HALLE Sharenergy Coton Hill, Shrewsbury JONATHAN PORRITT Director, Forum for the Future Ironmonger Row, London

TOM BURKE Chairman, E3G Great Guildford Street, London (PROF) KEITH BARNHAM Imperial College, London (DR) DAVID LOWRY

Clandon Close Stoneleigh, Surrey (DR) PAUL DORFMAN The Energy Institute, University

College London Dr A Mccormick seems bothered by excess wind electricity production in Scotland (Letters, 7 October). The answer is simple – more electric cars. The excess is worst at night, getting worse due to ever more efficient lighting and no more heavy industries working three shifts. Electric cars are charged at night and driven during the day so are a perfect fit.

Lower electricity prices at night for electric car charging would be an incentive!

Concerning Dr Mccormick’s problem with an excessive supply of apples, the Swiss may have a solution. They make their cherries into Kirsch, their pears into Williams, and apricots into apricot brandy. This saves the energy for the hard winter and provides a pleasurable way of recuperating it. GEORGE SHERING West Acres Drive

Newport on Tay