Minister calls for cap on power-transmission charges
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has called for the introduction of a cap on what he labelled a "ridiculous" charging system for use of power-transmission lines.
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has called for the introduction of a cap on what he labelled a "ridiculous" charging system for use of power-transmission lines.
Power cable installation (mainly inter-array cables) is the problem child of the still putative offshore wind industry, which must learn from the huge experience of the offshore oil and gas industry, according to research by Enventi, a UK engineering design and consultancy firm.
The start of second generation wave and tidal device testing will bring a new 360 degrees tank testing facility in Edinburgh into its own, it is hoped.
Saltire medal 2012 winner Richard Yemm was singled out for recognition of his contribution towards the commercial development of wave or tidal energy.
Using the natural energy resources of the planet in a sustainable way is what the promotion of renewable energy is all about.
When the All-Energy show was conceived at the beginning of the 2000s, a central purpose was to drive home the relevance of the offshore oil and gas supply chain to maritime renewables.
Since the start of the year major firms from Siemens to Andritz have staked their claim - and name - on a host of pre-commercial wave and tidal firms.
A spin-out from Edinburgh Napier University is in the process of scaling up what it hopes will become a commercial production of biobutanol from whisky by-products.
The big wave of work from renewables is not far off, the question is how far away?
Japan is starting to flex increasing muscle in the offshore wind market, both through domestic technology development and international investment.
Much time is required and significant legislation needs to be enacted before the UK's Green Investment Bank (GIB) can start in earnest. It will first need state-aid approval, to get a structure up and running, and then legislation to agree to borrowing powers for its initial £3 billion capitalisation - a process expected to take until 2015.
Proposals by Ofgem to improve the transmission charging regime have been labelled a "a wasted opportunity".
Aberdeen company W3GM says there will be a significant undersupply of assets . . . ships and crane barges . . . suitable for installing the huge number of offshore turbines scheduled for planting in UK waters under the Round Three programme.
Planning issues, the availability of finance, grid connection charges and objectors have been identified as main challenges to renewable energy projects in Scotland.
Fabrication firm Offshore Group Newcastle is hoping to move into offshore wind foundation manufacturing at its yard on the Tyne.
Orkney's European Marine Energy Centre has in the past year seen activity rise to the extent the site has the most devices being tested than anywhere else in the world.
A "catapult" centre to push technology development in offshore renewables is expected to open this summer.
Irish tidal developer OpenHydro is getting ready to chalk up another first.
Two separate consultations about energy developments in Moray concluded yesterday.
The Scottish Government has unveiled a £10million package for a proposed oil rig decommissioning facility in Shetland.
Aberdeenshire Council's new leader has vowed to push for "robust" guidelines to deal with the influx of wind turbines being built in the north-east.
A project which aims to minimise the environmental impact of marine renewable-energy developments has received £1million of investment. TeraWatt, led by the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland, has received the funding from Research Councils UK.
Energy service giant Wood Group has been presented with Scotland's top engineering accolade.
Developers behind plans for Buchan's biggest windfarm have come face to face with opponents.
Aberdeen is gearing up for yet another bumper All-Energy exhibition and conference with expectations it will again break its own records.