An Opportunity for Scotland

Our planet is threatened by climate change. The greatest single threat comes from carbon dioxide which is emitted when we burn fossil fuels: oil, coal and gas. The UK Government accepts this, yet it is licensing massive new oil fields on the Atlantic Frontier, off the west-coast of Scotland, to expand oil production well into the 21st century. Yet we cannot afford to burn more than a quarter of the fossil fuels we have already discovered. To go searching for more is lunacy (1). Oil and gas from the Atlantic Frontier is not essential to Scotland's future energy supplies, or to future employment creation. (2) Scotland has the largest wind and wave resource in Europe. Development of these resources would be particularly appropriate for the Scottish Highlands and Islands. There are hundreds of miles of coastline, heavy swell and strong tides, and the area has more than its fair share of wind. Solar Electricity could soon be competitive, and would be particularly suitable for use in urban areas. Underlying any renewable energy plan for Scotland must be a major energy efficiency programme to bring Scotland's housing stock up to modern standards.

Solar

Britain stands to lose out in the global race to develop a world class solar industry and create jobs, because unlike Japan, Germany and the USA our Government does not support the industry or help homeowners convert to solar. (3)

The solar photovoltaics industry have said to the Government that they will invest £100m in new solar factories in the UK, creating 40,000 jobs, if they will support solar to the tune of £18m per year up to 2010. This would catalyse a programme of installing solar panels on 50,000 homes - at the moment there are only five solar homes in the UK, three of which were solarised by Greenpeace. (4)

A BP report shows the cost of solar electricity could be cut by four-fifths if a large factory was built - this would mean solar electricity would cost about the same as the current selling price of electricity. At this sort of price it could soon be economic to install solar photovoltaics on new houses in Scotland's urban areas. (5) Many Housing Associations, including Edinburgh's Canmore and Glasgow's Shettlestone Housing Associations, have supported the Greenpeace campaign for Government action on solar. There is a common misconception that Solar photovoltaics wouldn't work so far north. But Norway already has 50,000 solar electric homes. (6)

Another form of solar energy is the 'solar thermal collector'. These are also placed on the roofs of houses, but rather than producing electricity, they produce hot water. Surprisingly countries at higher latitudes, like Scotland, are better placed to benefit from this technology, because although they get less heat from the sun, there is a longer heating season, so the savings that can be made in heating costs are greater, and the payback is therefore faster. Even on dull cloudy days the sun's energy can be used to heat water and reduce energy use. There are around 42,000 domestic solar hot water systems in use in the UK. (7)

Wave power

Wave Energy could realistically provide almost one-fifth of the UK's electricity supply, with most of that coming from Scotland.(8)

Wave power provides great opportunities in Scotland. The OSPREY project being developed by Inverness-based Applied Research and Technology (ART), offers huge opportunities for exports. Although OSPREY 1 sank when it was installed off the coast at Dounreay, its demise was due to unusual weather conditions during the sensitive installation period. OSPREY 2 should be launched in 1998 or 99. Its backers include British Steel, GEC-Alsthom, AEA Technology and Scottish Hydro-Electric. The device will have a capacity of 2MW.(9)

OSPREY's designer, who used to work for the oil industry, believes it is perfectly feasible for the Shetland Islands, for example, to become self-sufficient in electricity using wave power.(10)

If the last Government hadn't shut down most of the wave power research we could have had a world lead by now in this technology. The Government helped launch the technology in 1976, but it was abandoned in March 1994, just when it was beginning to get successful. (11)

ART has had inquiries from around 100 potential customers, so if OSPREY 2 goes according to plan, wave power could soon be giving a jobs boost to Scottish shipyards and oil fabrication yards.(12)

A 75kw shoreline wave station on Islay has survived nine winters now, and a larger 0.5MW project is planned.

The House of Commons Select Committee on Energy said in1992 that '...a substantial increase in funding for wave energy R&D would be a particularly strong signal of the Government's increased commitment to renewable energy'. (13) There are many other types of wave power device that deserve further investigation and funding, for example 'Salter's Duck' developed at Edinburgh University. Scotland would be an ideal location for a wave energy institute which could catalyse R&D efforts into sizeable demonstration projects. (14)

Wind

Scotland has more than one quarter of the European Union's windpower resource. Yet it is at the bottom of the continent's windpower league. The previous Government's target for all new renewable energy for Scotland for the year 2000 was a mere 150MW (15) , compared with 1,500MW in Denmark just for wind by 2005. (16) Existing capacity in Germany is already 1,764MW with 216MW installed in the first 6 months of 1997. (17)

The price of wind energy has come down rapidly and is now comparable with new coal fired power stations. (18)

In the early days of the modern wind industry, Scotland was at the forefront, and could have developed a much larger industry, with Howdens in Glasgow leading the way. But lack of Government support led to its demise. (19) Scotland could have won a huge export market and led the world. Now Denmark has the largest wind power industry in the world. In 1996 Danish companies provided 725MW of new generating capacity - equivalent to a medium sized power station. (20) It is time to revitalise the Scottish wind industry.

By marketing wind turbines for the home market, and for export, a Scottish wind industry could provide new jobs. Denmark sells turbines in 20 different countries - the two largest markets are Germany and India. But the industry’s growth rate at home exceeds the export rate, because of a string of initiatives from the Danish Government. Employment in Denmark reached 9,000 in 1995. (21) The British Wind Energy Association estimate that around 2,200 UK jobs already rely on wind.

Wind will provide 10% of Denmark's electricity demand by 2005, and up to 60% by 2030. (22)

Wind developers have learnt from earlier designs, and machines are now very quiet. Better design, and careful siting can improve the visual impact of wind farms dramatically. Despite opposition to some wind developments, people who live near wind turbines tend to be even more favourable towards them than the average - especially when, like in Denmark - they are given the opportunity to own a share of the local wind power company. (23)

The intense competition for contracts under the Scottish Renewables Order, which provides a subsidy for renewables, has resulted in the exploitation of high wind speed sites (which are also frequently areas of scenic beauty), rather than areas of medium wind speeds which still have good potential. This might dampen the expansion of the wind industry as non-protected sites with high wind speeds become less available. (24)

Fluctuation of supply to the grid is not a problem in Western Denmark where 25% of electricity supply comes from wind. (25)

Offshore wind could also make a valuable contribution in Scotland, but in general wave power is more appropriate for Scotland, and offshore wind for England and Wales. (26) There are now plans for two UK offshore wind schemes - one off the coast at Clacton in Suffolk (12.8MW), and a 723kW extension from the Blythe Harbour project in Northumberland. (27) A Scottish turbine manufacturing industry could always provide the equipment for offshore projects in England.

Jobs

Analysis indicates that spending on renewables generate more employment (approximately 25%) than an equivalent sum of money spent on conventional fossil fuel technologies.(28)

An expenditure of £700m/year on renewable energy schemes up to 2005 (not including solar & wave) across the UK could create 48,700 jobs. Of this, 14,300 jobs will be associated directly with the energy and related supply sectors and this will tend to be generated in rural areas, where the need is the most. Taking into account the displacement arising from reduced spending on conventional energy schemes there would be a net increase of 9700 jobs.(29)

By the end of 1995, the UK wind industry had already created 2200 jobs in the UK. (30)

A renewable industry in Scotland should be coupled with an energy efficiency programme. Such a programme will create additional jobs in housing and related energy efficiency sectors. Other types of renewables, which could make a contribution in Scotland, include bio-fuels and small-scale hydro projects.

The Islands Commission (an EU institution) says Renewable energy sources have a significant role to play in the development of islands - creating employment - protecting delicate ecosystems - assisting the marketing of tourism. (31)

With new oil developments planned on the west of Scotland, consideration also has to be given to any potential damaging affects on job prospects in other areas, such as tourism, fishing etc. Scotland relies on its reputation for a clean environment to promote many of its products from salmon to whisky.

Conclusion

Scotland has some wonderful opportunities to exploit its renewable energy resources, and take a lead in a growing export market, as nations around the world begin to realise that their future economic well-being has to be based on renewable technologies. A global phase-out of fossil fuels is inevitable - it is not a case of whether we do it, but when. The danger is, that if Scotland doesn't start the switch now, and begin to make the most of the opportunities presented, it will not only miss out on a rapidly growing market, but will be left with nothing but the legacy of a dying oil industry.

Scottish politicians need to champion an international initiative to put the lid on fossil fuels and start promoting renewable energy by arguing for:-

A revamped Scottish Renewables Order, which considers economic and social benefits, and is not narrowly focussed on cost as is the current system. A new SRO should also support non-grid connected projects.

A solar factory for Scotland, underpinned by a commitment from the Scottish Office and local government to purchase photovoltaics.

Public funding for wave energy research and development.

A planning policy to promote wind energy in a way which is sensitive to the landscape and encourages community participation in wind developments

The development of an off-shore wind project in Scotland.

A massive energy efficiency programme.

References

1 See 'Putting the Lid On Fossil Fuels'. Greenpeace UK 1997 for the full 'carbon logic' argument and calculation and forthcoming report by Greenpeace International 'The Carbon Logic - Fossil Fuels and the Climate'. back to text

2 'Achieving the Possible - a sustainable energy strategy for Scotland'. Friends of the Earth Scotland 1997. back to text

3 'Grid Connection of photovoltaic systems' ETSU 1394-P1 Dti Report 1993. Quoted in 'Solar Electric: The Political Challenge'. Greenpeace February 1997 back to text

4 See 'Solar Electric: The Potential Challenge' Greenpeace Briefing Feb 1997. back to text

5 'Solar power cost could be cut by 80%' by Michael Peel. Financial Times 25th August 1997. back to text

6 'Understanding Global Issues: Solar Energy, Harnessing the Power of the Sun', April 1996. Quoted in 'Solar Electric - building homes with solar power' Greenpeace UK 1996. back to text

7 ibid back to text

8 'A Review of Wave Energy' ETSU TS324, 1992 and 'An assessment of the ART Osprey Wave Energy Device' T.W. Thorpe, Strategic Studies Department, ETSU for the Dti, ETSU R-90, 1995. David Ross (see ref 9) quotes 'Wave Energy: evaluation for CEC' by Dr Tony Lewis. Graham & Trotman 1985. which says the theoretical potential for wave energy is that it could provide 85% of the European Union's electricity demand, with almost one third coming from Scotland. back to text

9 'Power from the Waves' by David Ross. OUP 1995. back to text

10 'Shetland has enough wave energy to power the whole of Scotland' Shetland News 24th March 1997. back to text

11 Op.Cit. Ref.9 back to text

12 Op.Cit.Ref.10 back to text

13 'Renewable Energy' House of Commons Select Committee on Energy, 11th March 1992. back to text

14 Scottish Regional Energy Study. Scottish Enterprise/AHS/EMSTAR/NEL/University of Strathclyde. Autumn 1993. back to text

15 'Planning for Renewables - a guide to good practice in renewable energy developments for communities, local authorities and developers in Scotland. Friends of the Earth Scotland. 1997 back to text

16 'The Danish Wind Industry' by Soren Krohn, Director General, Danish Wind Turbine Manufacturers' Association. Islander No.2 July 1996. back to text

17 'New Market Record' Windpower Monthly August 1997. p4. back to text

18 'Wind Energy: Power for a sustainable future' British Wind Energy Association 1996. back to text

19 'Britain is best - for ideas' by David Ross. Safe Energy Journal, Dec96-Feb97 back to text

20 '21 Frequently Asked Questions About Wind Energy' Danish Wind Turbine Manufacturers Web Site. See question 21. back to text

21 Op.Cit. Ref 16. back to text

22 Op.Cit. Ref 20. back to text

23 Op.Cit.Ref 18. back to text

24 Op.Cit.Ref 15. back to text

25 Op.Cit.Ref 20. back to text

26 Op Cit. Ref 19. back to text

27 NATTA Newsletter - Renew On Line No.8 May-June 1997. back to text

28 'The potential contribution of renewable energy schemes to employment opportunities', ETSU K/PL/00108/REP back to text

29 ibid back to text

30 Op.Cit.Ref 18. back to text