Renewable energy and electricity infrastructure discussed in Edinburgh

7 June 2016

The Scottish Affairs Committee visits Edinburgh to discuss the power needs of Scottish electricity customers, the growth of the Scottish renewable sector and the move to a low carbon economy.

Witnesses

Thursday, 9 June 2016, Radisson Blu Hotel, St Giles Room - 80 High Street The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1TH

At 12.15pm

Lindsay McQuade, Policy and Innovation Director, ScottishPower Renewables

At 1.00pm

Kertsi Berge, Head of Scotland, Ofgem
Phil Sheppard, Director of System Operator Operations, National Grid
Andrew Huthwaite, Director of Commercial and Connections, Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD)

At 2.00pm

Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Scottish Government

Purpose of the session

The Committee hears from representatives of Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy, Ofgem, and the National Grid. They explain how they work together to ensure efficient connections between the remote areas where renewable energy is produced and the urban areas where much of it is used.

The Committee also be hears from Paul Wheelhouse, the new Scottish Government Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, to find out how the Scottish Government supports Scotland's renewable energy sector.

Chair's comments

Committee Chairman, Pete Wishart, said:

"This session is important in helping us understand the technical limitations that can hinder renewable energy projects. We know that Scotland has tremendous potential to produce energy from renewable sources, but projects are only viable if that energy can be transmitted efficiently to where it is needed.
In this session we will be finding out what the Scottish government, energy regulators and energy companies are doing to provide an infrastructure that enables this.
We will also be exploring what input the Scottish Government has in relation to UK renewables policy, and what they are doing to meet Scotland's ambitious targets regarding renewables and reducing carbon emissions."

Further information

Image: iStockphoto