Go ahead for new power station
Rosalind Griffiths
Electricity supplies will be improved and up to 400 jobs created during the construction phase after planning consent has been granted for the new Lerwick Power Station.
The new power station will replace the existing facility at Gremista, where some of the generators are 40 years old. The existing station will be
decommissioned following construction and commissioning of the proposed new plant, which will be built at Rova Head.
During construction the power station will create around 400 jobs.
Energy minister Fergus Ewing made the announcement today.
Mr Ewing said: “While we are working towards vastly increasing our renewable energy, Scotland still needs conventional, clean fossil fuel power to provide a steady supply of electricity. This could be met by new-build plant, upgrades to existing plants or a combination of both.
“Shetland has no connection to the UK national grid, and as such the electricity supply to both domestic and commercial properties is met predominantly by the existing power station.
“The generating capacity of the consented power station will be up to 120MWe. This increase in electrical capacity from 67MWe will allow the entire demand of Shetland to be met both now and will allow for future expansion of demand.
“The development is designed to utilise the heat produced during the electricity generating process, which could help Scotland further decarbonise its heating sector.
“I am pleased to see that the number of direct construction employment opportunities generated is expected to be around 400 personnel, and also that the development will open up opportunities for the existing Lerwick staff.”
The new £200 million development will be twice the size of the existing power station. It will be run on light fuel, but could be converted to run on natural gas.
More in this week’s Shetland Times.
John Tulloch
Isn’t there a bit more to it going ahead than obtaining planning consent from the Scottish government – like the small matter of OFGEM thinking it isn’t the most economic possible option for UK mainland consumers who will have to subsidise it?
Mind you, given that OFGEM is prepared to allow UK consumers to pay for a £1 billion submarine cable to carry 600MW of renewable energy from Shetland at £115/MWh, their position does seem a bit odd?
After all, modern, efficient gas power stations generate electricity at around £45/MWh, less than 40 percent of the price – and it’s there on calm days, too.
I’m a UK mainland consumer and I’ll happily take gas power from Shetland before wind energy, any day, thank you just the same.