UK stance on renewables “anti-business and anti-environment”
Holyrood’s Energy Minister has hit out at David Cameron over his “perverse“ stance on renewables.
fergus ewing
Scottish Government puts moratorium on underground coal gasification
The Scottish Government has announced it has put in place a moratorium on underground coal gasification (UCG) in Scotland, following on from its existing fracking moratorium.
Opinion: Smoke, mirrors and hot air
At time of writing, 5% of the UK’s electricity consumption is coming from wind. Another few per cent is powered by other renewables, mainly long-established hydro; 39% from gas, 21 from nuclear and 22 from coal.
Updated: Renewable figures highlight risk of cutting subsidies – Ewing
New figures showing Scotland’s progress towards decarbonising electricity generation demonstrate the risks posed by removing support for the renewables industry earlier than planned, energy minister Fergus Ewing has said.
Hundreds attend energy jobs fair in Aberdeen
Around 800 people attend a jobs fair in Aberdeen today as the the Energy Jobs Taskforce met in the city to drive forward work supporting more than 2,500 individuals and 100 employers through the current downturn in the oil and gas industry.
Energy Minister calls for UK Government action to support oil and gas sector
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has called on the UK Government to make further commitments to the help the North Sea oil and gas industry and take action on protecting the stability of the oil and gas fiscal regime. In a briefing at Holyrood to politicians he said there needed to be an urgent consultation on inventives to boost further exploration in the North Sea. Ewing also urged the UK government to make a commitment there would be no tax increases for the industry and any significant policy proposals should be in consultation with both industry and the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).
Opinion: Turbines and tourism can co-exist
After a survey conducted by anti-windfarm campaigners revealed the developments were driving visitors away from Scotland, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing explains why he believes turbines and tourism can co-exist. A successful tourism industry is absolutely vital for Scotland's economy. In 2014, there were 15.7 million overseas and domestic visits, up 10% on the previous year, with tourists spending nearly £5billion. As both energy and tourism minister I warmly welcome the great work being done in this area and we will work to ensure this success story continues.
Global SCS lands three Investors in People awards
Oil service company Global SCS has achieved a notable first in Scotland's energy industry by receiving three top Investors in People (IIP) awards.
Letter between oil tycoon and Scottish Government calls for stance on fracking
Oil tycoon Algy Cluff warned Scottish ministers the day after a moratorium on fracking was confirmed that Scotland could risk losing £250million of investment. The multi-millionaire warned energy minister Fergus Ewing and Alex Neil that including his plans for underground coal gasification (UCG) in the moratorium would have an impact on Cluff Natural Resources (CNR) ability to “operate and invest” further in Scotland. CNR has ploughed ahead with plans to develop Britain’s first offshore UCG project in recent times, despite opposition from environmentalists, who feel the methods used are unsafe and require further testing.
Call to encourage greater use of solar energy in Scotland
A leading political figure has called for greater deployment of solar energy in Scotland. Energy minister Fergus Ewing said more work needed to be done to help homes and businesses generate their own supply of electricity. The call comes after the Department of Energy and Climate and Change (DECC) made moves to reduce the Feed-in –Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) subsidies in the UK and set proposals to reduce the renewables obligation support.
Fergus Ewing: Consumers real victim in wind subsidy scrap
This week’s summit was a an opportunity for me to hear the industry’s concerns about the recent decision from the UK Government to close the Renewables Obligation early in next April. This of course is a big blow to our industry in Scotland especially as around 70% of onshore wind projects in the UK planning system are in Scotland, this will surely have a disproportionate impact on us. This can only be described as anti-business and the impacts could spread right across Scotland and the wider supply chain, including ports and harbours, transmission and distribution, consultancy, universities and the civil engineering sector. All of this is will come at great personal and economic cost to our businesses and people. I’ve heard from many successful businesses who are at the forefront of renewables technology who are now looking being forced to looking at redundancies as a result of these changes.
Campaigners attack Ewing over wind subsidy summit
The SNP Government is obsessed with lining the pockets of foreign windfarm developers, according to campaigners who have condemned a summit to be hosted by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing tomorrow. He will meet representatives of the renewable energy sector in Glasgow where they are expected to vent their anger over the UK Government’s decision to end subsidies to the industry. Mr Ewing’s opponents say the main beneficiaries of the turbines built across Scotland are overseas companies.
Summit debates end of wind subsidy
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing is to chair an emergency summit with the green energy sector today amid concerns about the impact of the UK Government’s decision to end a subsidy scheme for onshore wind farms.
Legal move mulled over wind subsidy
The UK Government’s decision to end subsidy payments for onshore wind farms a year early could face a challenge in the courts. Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing warned that scrapping the “renewables obligation” scheme could result in legal action being taken by the green energy sector.