Net Zero Only Achievable with Support for Infrastructure and Policy Changes

Net Zero aspirations set out in yesterday’s Programme for Government speech by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, can only  be achieved if the Scottish Government truly supports the infrastructure and policy changes required – according to Orkney Islands Council Leader James Stockan.

The First Minister’s speech comes on the back of a proposal to make three of Scotland’s islands carbon neutral by 2040.

The Scottish Government has said that their Carbon Neutral Islands project - announced by Islands Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, on Monday (6 September) - will deliver key commitments in the National Islands Plan and will create jobs, protect Scottish island environments from climate change, and contribute to the Scottish Government’s 2045 net zero commitment.

According to the Scottish Government, ‘Carbon Neutral Islands’ will aim to ‘demonstrate the low carbon energy potential of Scotland’s islands as hubs of innovation in renewable energy and climate change resilience, whilst positively impacting on island economies and population retention and growth’.

The project will involve carbon audits across the islands and a pilot phase to inform learning

The exact islands – or island groups – have not yet been identified by the Scottish Government and it is understood that this will come following consultation with island groups.

In reaction to the Scottish Government’s announcement, Orkney Islands Council’s Political Leader, Councillor James Stockan, said: “The Scottish Government said yesterday that they are determined to tackle climate change – and through their new project are clearly setting the islands at the heart of that battle.

“Scotland’s islands, and to my mind Orkney in particular, can indeed play a significant role in the Government achieving its Net Zero aspirations – but this can only happen by the Government demonstrating real leadership on the climate crisis by providing the islands with the tools they need to reach their goals.

“Here in Orkney, we’ve been at the heart of a renewables revolution for decade – the first grid connected turbine in the UK was erected in Orkney in 1951 and in the present day around 500 households are generating their own electricity through domestic turbines and we have the highest proportion of electric vehicles in the UK. We’re also at the centre of world-leading projects in hydrogen, tidal and wave energy and smart energy systems. This is nothing new to us.

“But progress is being hampered significantly due to the constraints placed on us by an inadequate transmission network and by the uncertainty around the way in which charges for electricity transmission are calculated through the outdated TNUoS (Transmission Network Use of System) charges. 

“As a local authority we’re doing all we can to tackle these issues. 

“By investigating the potential for three council-owned wind farms on our islands we’re taking an innovative developer approach to get Orkney over the line for the Needs Case for a new transmission link for Orkney – a link that could go a long way to making Orkney net-zero and aid substantially in reaching national targets too.  Planning applications for these wind farms currently sit with the Scottish Government for determination

“We also continue to make our voice heard at Westminster, where Ofgem are currently consulting on potentially catastrophic changes to the already flawed grid charging system – changes that could sink existing projects, never mind planned projects  - and we are urging the Scottish Government decision makers to do whatever they can to influence Ofgem for common sense to prevail.

“We therefore call on the Scottish Government – if they are truly committed to their Net Zero aspirations – to demonstrate that with real actions that truly reward island communities with the tools to thrive, flourish and make a real contribution to Scotland’s greener future.”