OIC calls for recognition of islands’ green potential in grid charging review

Orkney Islands Council  has called for recognition of the huge potential in Scotland’s island communities to generate green energy on behalf of the UK – in response to grid charging proposals published by Ofgem.

The council is disappointed that the long-awaited and final consultation paper issued by the energy industry regulator favours an option for future transmission charges which leaves Orkney, and the other Scottish islands, facing disproportionately higher transmission charges than mainland locations.

Chairman of the council’s development and regeneration committee, Councillor Ian Johnstone, said: “Scotland’s islands are an integral part of the UK, and the jewel in the UK’s renewables crown, and should not be in the position of having these potentially prohibitive charges.”

He added: “The council has been involved in all the steps of the review, submitting responses to consultations and arguing the islands case.  This makes it particularly disappointing that Ofgem’s current consultation paper does so little to resolve the problem.”