Talking-up Scotland

In May 2016, the BBC website reported:

‘A huge new gas plant that is bringing reserves west of Shetland to the mainland has been officially opened. The Shetland Gas Plant is said by operator Total to be capable of supplying energy to two million homes. It began processing gas from the vast Laggan and Tormore fields, north west of Shetland, in February.’

Now Total has started producing gas from its other fields west of Shetland, Edradour and Glenlivet, a year ahead of schedule and under-budget. It’s not clear from the reports whether this will lead to an increase on the two million homes forecast or whether it is just part of it. I reported in April 2017 that Scottish gas production was growing just as UK imports of gas were rising so this looks like further evidence that Scotland’s gas and other energy sources will play a big part in keeping rUK warm. Further, the UK is heavily reliant on Europe for imports of gas so a hard Brexit could put these at risk and make the Scottish supplies even more vital.

Scottish Gas output rises as production begins on a new field that could fuel, by itself, all of post-independence Scotland

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-gas-supplies-crisis-mps-warn-a7362286.html

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/149057/total-announces-start-edradour-glenlivet-near-1b-investment/

(c) thisismoney.co.uk

Two test turbines at the MeyGen scheme in the Pentland Firth have generated 700MWh of monthly production. That’s a world record for marine turbines. The electricity generated enough power for 2 000 homes but as you can see below, the finished project is expected to generate enough for 700 000 homes.

Looking at the diagram above, it suggests there will be 400 turbines so if 2 can now do 2 000 homes, then 400 will do 800 000 homes?

Here is just a sample of some of the earlier records set by Scotland’s renewables industry and reported here:

As world’s largest tidal energy plant in Pentland Firth generates 1GWh which is enough for 700 000 homes, will Scotland become the most energy-rich country in Europe?

Orkney’s giant tidal turbine is the world’s most powerful

‘The Biggest in the World!’ 270 tidal energy turbines to be installed to provide sustainable power to Scotland

‘Scotland Sets [Another] New Wind Power Record’

‘Wind farms powered 4 million Scottish homes last month’ and there are only 2.4 million ‘households’ in Scotland

Scottish renewable energy records just keep coming, even in June!

All of Scotland could have been renewables-powered in May

Reporting in Insider magazine, Dr Sam Gardner, of WWF Scotland said:

‘This is a sign that Scotland is really making progress in harnessing the power of our seas and that we’re on our way to securing a low carbon future. By supporting projects like this one, which provide clean, predictable, homegrown power, the Scottish Government can help fight climate change, strengthen our energy security and drive further job creation in sustainable industries.’

I suspect that ‘can’ should be ‘does’.

http://www.insider.co.uk/news/two-pentland-firth-turbines-set-11087768

Along with a £4 million loan from the Bank of Scotland and £1 million from Forth Housing Association (FHA) and Stirling, as total of £13 million will be used to build 130 new badly needed affordable homes across the town.

The FHA already has 800 homes in the area. The Chairperson of FHA said:

‘This is all part of our effort to support the Scottish Government in delivering its target of building 35,000 new affordable homes over the next five years. Getting on the housing ladder remains a big challenge in this area as house prices and rents continue to rise, so there is a considerable demand for social housing locally.’

I hope readers are not tired of me reminding them that the Scottish Government is building affordable housing at twice the rate per capita of that in Theresa’s brutal kingdom but just in case:

SNP government spending on affordable housing to be more than twice, per head of population, than that of Tory government

https://sbnn.co.uk/2017/08/30/social-housing-boost-stirling-funding-secured-130-new-homes/

The Free Democratic Party and the Greens seem likely to be part of Germany’s coalition government after the federal election on September 24^th. Both have expressed their support for Scotland and Northern Ireland by calling for talks between the EU and the UK ‘to consider the interests of Scotland and Northern Ireland fairly.’

More dramatically, they have insisted that: ‘Should they [Scotland and N Ireland] decide to leave the U.K., the door to the EU should remain open.’

I think we can pretty much discount now all those desperate Unionists who try to suggest we’d struggle to be admitted.

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-08-30/german-parties-snub-u-k-to-back-scotland-s-push-to-defy-brexit

© bt.dk

Anders Povlsen, a Danish billionaire, has lost his fight against the Scottish Government decision over a major windfarm which threatens the view from his Highland estate. Unnamed opposition politicians are said to have supported him but the local community were in favour and raised a petition to support their case. Povlsen is the second largest private landowner in Scotland so we must assume ‘opposition’ means ‘Tory’.

The Scottish government, openly responsive to the local community support, gave permission for the 22-turbine Creag Riabhach development.

Readers might be interested to know that the Scottish government is not uncritical in its approach to giving permission for windfarms with 2 out of every 3 applications rejected:

https://www.energyvoice.com/otherenergy/146449/nearly-two-three-wind-farm-decisions-overturned-ministers/

https://www.energyvoice.com/otherenergy/149099/%e2%80%8bdanish-billionaire-loses-battle-block-highland-windfarm/

(c) pinterest.co.uk

In yesterday’s edition of Energy Voice, readers are reminded that David Cameron had pledged to help the industry in 2016 by appointing an ‘Oil and Gas Ambassador’ who would:

‘ensure the best possible access for UK companies to markets overseas, promote the sector around the world and boost inward investment.’

19 months later, not only has the post not been filled, the current Energy Minister, Richard Harrison, has never heard of it. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at the usual mix of incompetence and duplicity from the Tories.

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/149101/promised-oil-gas-ambassador-not-appointed/

We know now, of course, that had they taxed the industry properly, they could have use those funds to invest in development.

Why were tens of billions in oil revenues lost by UK government? Would they have made Scotland seem too wealthy in September 2014?

The SNP, of course, have published a plan in their May 2017 manifesto. There is a section on oil and gas which, according to energy Voice again, accuses the Tories of:

merely planning for a “managed decline” of the oil and gas sector;

failing to provide “adequate support for the industry and families which depend on it.

Instead, the SNP demand that the UK government: ‘deliver a strong deal including targeted incentives to develop small pool discoveries, further support to stimulate exploration activity and loan guarantees for critical infrastructure.’

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/140083/exclusive-snp-unveils-plan-help-oil-industry-thrive-years/

The imminent boom in oil price, by 2020 at the latest, may make this seem less important but it still reminds us of what the Tories can and will do for Scotland – as little as possible.

(c) scrabster.co.uk

The harbour now:

1. has a total economic output up from £39 million in 2009 to £48 million today;
2. supports 403 jobs;
3. has a 70% increase in GVA – a widely used measure of economic contribution;
4. has wages and salaries arising from the activities of the harbour at £10.3million up from £6.2million previously;
5. is the UK’s fourth largest landing port for fish;
6. has recently added a new ice plant to expand facilities for fishing vessels;
7. has a growing oil and gas and renewables base;
8. supports lifeline ferry services;
9. is seeing an increasing number of cruise ship visitors.

https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/148935/scrabster-harbour-worth-24million-year-scotlands-economy/

(c) sky.com

Kezia Dugdale has resigned days after a Blairite purge was predicted in Scottish Labour and reported here:

A Blairite Purge? I love the sound of those words but would that be good news for the SNP?

As a confirmed opponent of Jeremy Corbyn’s socialist agenda it was only a matter of time. She claims that she has left the party in better state than she found it and her head remains high. I think we all know it is the Corbyn surge that gets the credit for any improvement.

Graciously if a little unconvincingly, Corbyn has thank her for her efforts:

‘Kezia became Scottish leader at one of the most difficult times in the history of the Scottish Labour Party, and the party’s revival is now fully under way, with six new MPs and many more to come. I want to thank Kez for her tireless service to our party and movement.’

Who is next I wonder? Alex Rowley’s ‘Gary Tank Commander’s Dad’ impressions get my vote but I guess the literate Corbynite, Neil Findlay, must be the favourite. He’ll be ideally suited to toe the London party line too so if you’re Labour for Independence, don’t go rushing back. Don’t get fooled again.

That’s two song titles in one report!

(c) bbc.co.uk

‘The scale of PFI repayments are now absolutely staggering – showing the sheer incompetence and damaging legacy of the previous Labour and the Lib Dem executive which is holding Scotland back to this day.’

Those are the words of SNP MSP Ash Denham. Can’t argue with that other than to remind him that some of the school walls built under the scheme have started to fall down on windy days killing, so far, nobody. The projects have been both over-priced and under-supervised

The Courier’s headline was:

‘Toxic’ PFI charges for taxpayer exceed £1bn a year for first time’

That’s right, £1 000 000 000 per year and at least that amount for 25 years. Here’s how the Courier explains the deals:

‘PFI deals, a form of public-private partnership, involve the private sector providing the cash up front for infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, which public authorities then lease back over a period of at least 25 years. Those unitary charge payments, which can also include stumping up for maintenance and cleaning, often exceed the value of the building project itself, with the public body never actually owning the property. Meanwhile, companies can make large profits through guaranteed annual payments.’

Notice that we never actually own the property. A deal with the de’il?

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/499276/toxic-pfi-charges-taxpayer-exceed-1bn-year-first-time/

© scottishconstructionnow.com

You know, if we really loved our Queen, we’d have called it the ‘Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Kreuzung’ in respectful memory of her original family name. Not only that, we wouldn’t have let that pushy wee First Minister open it first with a show of lights and claims of coming in under budget. The nerve of the woman! Here’s the video:

http://www.insider.co.uk/news/watch-queensferry-crossing-nicola-sturgeon-11073611

The bridge will be open on Wednesday 30^thAugust, today. I’ve no idea when the official and therefore pointless second opening will be and, of course, I couldn’t give a. It’s been a huge success. Though delayed by bad weather including some of the highest winds the contractors had ever faced, the bridge has come in almost £250 million or nearly 20% under budget. That’s right a capital expenditure project under budget. The government of the day takes the credit I think. If it had come in over budget they’d have got the stick. Further, these savings are in addition to £512 million which was saved during the procurement phase. Clearly not a bridge too far but a bridge at just the right amount.

https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/20999/queensferry-crossing-lights-up-ahead-of-official-opening/