An open letter to Fergus Ewing and Derek Mackay

Dear Mr Ewing/Mr Mackay,

I am writing to you in my capacity as an elected member in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar regarding the issue of local energy generation and grid capacity in the Western Isles.

As the islands wait for the interconnector, which is scheduled for 2019, communities have invested in turbines to generate income and fund projects within their community.

However, the lack of capacity in the local grid is preventing many of these community turbines to export generated energy and thus raise income.

In 2010, SSE stated that: 

" Recognising that a number of smaller windfarm developments may be ready to connect prior to the commissioning of this (Minch sub-sea) link, we are exploring with national Grid whether there are any options in managing the generator output to allow for additional generation to connect utilising the existing 132kV transmission circuit that connects the Western Isles via Skye to the Scottish mainland"

On the 6th of February I wrote to Alec Morrison, Transmission Development Islands network investment Manager SSE power distribution asking whether this was still feasible and to look at increasing the capacity from 20MW to 40MW. Sources, since then, have said that possibly 60MW would be considered. Mr Morrison wrote back positively by saying that SSE would ask their distribution colleagues and NGET to review the current position and determine if anything further can be done to connect additional community generation ahead of the completion of the Minch HVDC link.

Would the Scottish Government consider supporting such an initiative for the islands given the tremendous opportunity such an increase would bring to the economically fragile communities in the authority.

I would be willing to meet and discuss further opportunities,

Please advise your thoughts on this matter,

Best wishes,

Councillor Gordon Murray