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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Moray Firth subsea cable approved | Moray Firth subsea cable approved |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A planned subsea electricity cable connecting two sides of the Moray Firth has been given approval by the industry regulator. | |
| The 100-mile underground and subsea line, between Caithness and Moray, could add 1.2 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity to the grid. | The 100-mile underground and subsea line, between Caithness and Moray, could add 1.2 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity to the grid. |
| Green energy schemes proposed for the area include plans for more than 300 wind turbines off the Moray Firth. | Green energy schemes proposed for the area include plans for more than 300 wind turbines off the Moray Firth. |
| SSE said Ofgem's approval of the scheme meant it could be finished in 2018. | SSE said Ofgem's approval of the scheme meant it could be finished in 2018. |
| The project is being led by SSE subsidiary Scottish Hydro Electricity Transmission (SHE) which said the subsea line would help meet targets to generate more renewable power, at a lower cost to customers. | The project is being led by SSE subsidiary Scottish Hydro Electricity Transmission (SHE) which said the subsea line would help meet targets to generate more renewable power, at a lower cost to customers. |
| Martin Crouch, from energy regulator Ofgem, said: "This is a major step forward for an essential upgrade to the high-voltage grid so that more renewable energy can connect to the networks. | Martin Crouch, from energy regulator Ofgem, said: "This is a major step forward for an essential upgrade to the high-voltage grid so that more renewable energy can connect to the networks. |
| "Today's decision means that the company can move forward with work on the upgrade. | "Today's decision means that the company can move forward with work on the upgrade. |
| "We have already started on the next phase of checking SHE's spending plans and we will ensure it completes the work as efficiently as possible so that consumers pay a fair price for this." | "We have already started on the next phase of checking SHE's spending plans and we will ensure it completes the work as efficiently as possible so that consumers pay a fair price for this." |
| WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "If Scotland is to fully tap into the massive renewable energy resources that lie both on and offshore then we need to see new or improved transmission connections like this one. | WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "If Scotland is to fully tap into the massive renewable energy resources that lie both on and offshore then we need to see new or improved transmission connections like this one. |
| "However, to fully unlock Scotland's renewable potential we need to see electricity transmission charges that do not unduly penalise some of the best locations to generate clean energy in the entire UK. | "However, to fully unlock Scotland's renewable potential we need to see electricity transmission charges that do not unduly penalise some of the best locations to generate clean energy in the entire UK. |
| "We therefore also welcome the news that Ofgem has listened and acted on the calls that we and others have made to improve the transmission charging regime." | "We therefore also welcome the news that Ofgem has listened and acted on the calls that we and others have made to improve the transmission charging regime." |
| Fraser Grieve, Highlands and Islands director of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, said it was a "welcome step". | Fraser Grieve, Highlands and Islands director of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, said it was a "welcome step". |
| He added: "By both increasing the capacity and the resilience of the transmission network investors should now have more confidence to push forward with renewable energy developments." | He added: "By both increasing the capacity and the resilience of the transmission network investors should now have more confidence to push forward with renewable energy developments." |