scotland

UK power generator SSE has confirmed it will allocate £100 million in capital to boost Coire Glas – a Scottish-based pumped hydro storage project with the potential to be the “biggest” in 40 years.

Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has officially opened what is said to be one of Scotland’s “most sustainably built colleges”, featuring a 26.22kW solar installation.

Power station closures in Fife and East Lothian, combined with rising interest in cheap, renewable energy has seen demand for solar PV soar in Scotland, property consultancy Galbraith has said.

Solar is set to play an “important role” in Scotland’s plan to accelerate the renewable revolution, the Government outlined in its new Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan draft.

In answer to a question posed by Fergus Ewing MSP in parliament earlier this week, Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, recognised the significant contribution solar could make in decarbonising Scotland’s energy supply, and told the chamber that a “clear vision” for the future development of solar will be presented in early January.

Solar Energy Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government’s inclusion of solar energy systems in the non-domestic rates regime, announced in the Scottish Budget 2023-24 last week (15 December).

Planning permission submitted by solar and battery developer Renewable Connections, for a 42MW solar and battery storage project in Montreathmont, Scotland, has received unanimous approval from Angus Council’s Development and Standards.

Solar Energy Scotland has called for the incorporation of solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems into Scotland’s public policy agenda owing to their “significant carbon and cost benefits”.

The Scottish Government promised that a “much bigger, renewed focus” will be given to solar power in the upcoming Energy Strategy draft during a debate on renewable energy last week (25 November).

Cross-party MSPs have released a letter calling on Scotland to set a target of between 4-6GW of solar power capacity, to help it achieve its full potential.