On-site & Micro News

Monday 11 January 2010

(l-r) Chief executive of Tullis Russell, Chris Parr, councillor Tony Martin, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, Niall Stuart and councillor Peter Grant

Fife council has claimed that companies in the area plan to invest nearly £400 million into renewable energy projects between now and 2013, putting the region on target to be the first major local authority area to meet the Scottish Government's green energy targets.

A report on ‘Growing Fife's Future - The Renewable Energy Opportunity' was launched by the local authority's development services at Tullis Russell on Friday (January 8). It highlights the commitment made by companies in the area to help create jobs and reduce carbon emissions.

The Scottish Government is currently aiming to reduce carbon emissions in Scotland from all sources by 42% and to generate 20% of energy from renewable sources by 2020.

The report also identifies the "massive opportunity" within the renewable energy sector to grow the Fife economy.

Peter Grant, leader of Fife council, said: ‘Fife council is working hard to reduce its own carbon emissions and become the leading green council in Scotland.

"We're also seeing green energy initiatives being led by many of our major employers. We believe the challenging targets set by the Scottish Government are achievable and we believe that by 2013 Fife will be in the enviable position of producing enough green energy to power every one of the Kingdom's 169,010 homes."

Renewable projects

One of the companies committed to meeting Fife's targets is papermaker Tullis Russell, which intends to install a new £200 million biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system to replace its coal fired boilers at its mill in Markinch.

The company claims the 50MW plant could supply enough electricity to power all the homes in Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline.

Energy giant RWE npower renewables signed a contract in September with Tullis Russell to supply the paper mill's biomass plant (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story).

Friday's report notes that there are a number of major projects currently taking place in Fife which have the potential to create up to 2,000 green jobs by 2020.

Scottish Power is currently bidding to make Longannet the first power station in the world to retro-fit Carbon, Capture and Storage (CCS) technology and if they are successful, it is thought that CCS could reduce Scotland's total carbon emissions by around 25% and create a number of highly skilled jobs in the surrounding area.

International drinks company Diageo is aiming to be the first carbon neutral FTSE 100 Company. As part of their Cameron Bridge distillery expansion they have contracted energy specialists Dalkia to install a new £65 million power generation plant consisting of a biomass CHP system and an anaerobic digester. It is hoped the plant will provide more than 90% of their energy needs.

‘The Renewable Energy Opportunity' report also explains how the shift towards a low carbon economy is a great opportunity for Fife's economy to grow.

Fife council and Scottish Enterprise - Scotland's main economic, enterprise, innovation and investment agency - are attempting to attract jobs to the region by ploughing "significant" investment into projects in Fife, including £13 million investment into the second phase of development at the Energy Park Fife in Methil.

Commenting on the report's findings, councillor Tony Martin, chair of Fife council's environment, enterprise and transportation committees, said: "With over £400 million of investment already committed, along with billions of potential investment from CCS and offshore wind, Fife has a massive opportunity to become Scotland's leading hub for renewable energy."

Offshore wind

The report also notes that the growth in offshore wind energy offers significant opportunities for the Fife economy, with up to 8,000 turbines required for wind farm sites around the UK coast, some of which are in deep water off the Fife coast.

Fife council's development services is seeking to attract new companies to Fife as well as helping indigenous firms grow and diversify.

The Crown Estate last week (January 8) announced that SeaGreen Wind Energy Ltd had been awarded the rights to develop a wind farm with a total capacity of 3.5GW in the Firth of Forth Zone of its Round 3 offshore wind licensing programme (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story).

The wind farm will be situated 12 miles off the coast of Fife and today's report claims the development will be massive opportunity for companies in the area.

Scottish Renewables

Green energy trade body Scottish Renewables welcomed the report, praising Fife's commitment to growing the sustainable energy sector.

Niall Stuart, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: "Fife is one of the leading supporters of renewable energy in Scotland, and the council has shown real vision and ambition to grow the area's sustainable energy sector.

"Renewables and other clean technologies are the future, but there are already many local companies taking the initiative and grasping the massive opportunities that the growth in renewable energy presents - both at home and abroad. This has seen the creation of many new highly paid and highly skilled jobs for local people."

He added that with such a diverse range of projects already committed, as well as a number in the pipeline, Fife council could achieve its target of 2,000 new green jobs before 2020.