SOLAR
SOLAR ENERGY
THE DELIVERY OF RELIABLE, RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SCOTLAND.
The Scottish Government has ambitious targets of meeting net zero emissions and consequently recognise that “We will need to focus our efforts on actively encouraging all developments that help to reduce emissions”.
‘We have set a target of net zero emissions by 2045, and must make significant progress towards this by 2030. This will require new development and infrastructure across Scotland.’
The Scottish Government published ‘Scotland’s Energy Strategy Position Statement’ (2021 SES) in March 2021. The 2021 SES notes an objective to
“Introduce a new framework of support for energy technology innovation, delivering a step change in emerging technologies funding to support the innovation and commercialisation of renewable energy generation, storage and supply.”
The Energy Strategy notes that “Scotland should have the capacity, the connections, the flexibility and resilience necessary to maintain secure and reliable supplies of energy to all of our homes and businesses as our energy transition takes place”.
The Scottish Government published ‘Scotland’s Energy Strategy Position Statement’ (2021 SES) in March 2021. The 2021 SES notes an objective to
“Introduce a new framework of support for energy technology innovation, delivering a step change in emerging technologies funding to support the innovation and commercialisation of renewable energy generation, storage and supply.”
The Energy Strategy notes that “Scotland should have the capacity, the connections, the flexibility and resilience necessary to maintain secure and reliable supplies of energy to all of our homes and businesses as our energy transition takes place”.
BENEFITS
Solar power is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy with the lowest levels of impact. The 104.5MW solar farm can generate enough power to support 22,149 homes and offset the equivalent of 15,918,367 car journeys. 42,819
Tonnes of co2 will be saved each year which, over the lifetime of the development equates to1,712,768 tonnes of co2 saved.
Tonnes of co2 will be saved each year which, over the lifetime of the development equates to1,712,768 tonnes of co2 saved.
VITAL AND ESSENTIAL STEPS AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE.
This project represents an important opportunity to contribute towards these goals, and deliver a low carbon, low cost, secure supply of renewable energy for many years to come. Like other renewable energies, solar power represents a ‘clean’ source of renewable energy as it doesn’t release any harmful emissions or pollutants. It is largely silent, and is unobtrusive to the landscape when compared to some other renewable technologies.
LOW CARBON
With advances in solar panel technology the project is able to deliver substantial environmental benefits and efficient energy generation, by offsetting CO2 emitted by electricity produced from fossil fuels.
LOW COST
Solar energy is one of the cheapest forms of new renewable power generation in the UK, and consequently can contribute to controlling consumer’s energy bills into the future.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
The design of solar projects such as The Solar Farm means that, in certain cases, activities and land uses related to agriculture or biodiversity enhancement can continue on the site of the solar farm. To name a few examples, sheep can graze amongst the solar panels, areas of land can be cultivated for wildflowers, or beehives can be placed on the site. Using agricultural land for solar panels allows the land to rest, while enhancing biodiversity, which in turn improves the soil quality.
SECURITY OF SUPPLY
Solar power generated in the UK reduces the need to import electricity from abroad. It also reduces the need to use gas to generate electricity and therefore reduces the reliance on the gas market to meet the electricity demands of the Nation. We currently rely on overseas energy 'topping up' the demands and this makes the UK vulnerable to the escalating prices of the market. By generating electricity at sites which have the infrastructure and the capacity to make a major difference to energy supply and to be able to control that power through the National network is an opportunity that cannot be disregarded. It is of huge importance that we all embrace developments of this scale that can make real difference to meeting the supply and demand of electricity with low carbon, renewable sources such as solar power.
Solar power jobs are another benefit of solar generation. The solar industry currently provides around 16,000 jobs in the UK and the renewables sector as a whole is expected to create up to 500,000 jobs.