Introduction

1.1 Throughout Europe and beyond, the need to reduce dependence on depleting reserves of fossil fuels has driven the development of commercial renewable energy technologies - mainly for electricity generation. Now, the impact of changing climate, as a result of emissions of greenhouse gases (principally from the combustion of hydrocarbons) has given greater impetus to the development of commercial drivers for renewable energy.

1.2 The Western Isles has significant sources of indigenous renewable energy. For many years, those with responsibility for strategic planning have sought to find ways to develop these local resources.

1.3 The local commercial development of renewable energy offers the Western Isles the prospect of economic and environmental benefits. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has taken the initiative to set out a vision of the Western Isles as an Energy Innovation Zone.  The creation of WIAREP is a key step in raising awareness; co-ordinating local interests; and establishing a practical action plan for sustainable energy in the Western Isles. 

1.4 Over the last 20 years there has been a sustained history of local interest in renewable energy projects in the Western Isles and a range of initiatives with other "peripheral" energy communities:

• "European Energy Network for Peripheral Islands"; an islands' network comprising Western Isles, Madeira, Shetland, Orkney and the Azores.
  
  
• TEAS; a local energy agency partly supported by the EC SAVE Programme, Scottish Hydro-Electric, Western Isles Enterprise and CnES. TEAS has carried out a range of energy saving related promotional work including presentations to school children and delivering energy efficient fridges to households at a subsidised cost
  
  
• ISLENET; initiated by CnES through CPMR.
  
  
• 60kW wind turbine at Liniclate School, Benbecula.
  
  
• Solar assisted houses reported in "Energy-conscious housing in the Outer Hebrides"

[Proc. of ERIC iii Conf, 1983]

Technologies

2.1 In parallel with the local interest over the last 15 years or more, renewable energy technologies have been developing. In wind energy, the Danes have been market leaders, aided by export sales to the USA in the 1980's. Consolidation within the wind turbine industry has resulted in concentration on 3 or 4 leading manufacturers (Danish and German) which dominate the sector. As the technology has developed, and as turbines have become larger, so the unit cost of the produced electricity has fallen. On-shore wind turbines are now the most cost-effective form of renewable electricity generation.

2.2 As an already-mature technology, small-scale hydro has not been able to achieve reductions in unit costs of power produced to match those achieved by wind turbines. Viability is very site-dependent.  Biomass and solar technologies are developing in the renewable energy market place. Wave energy is more expensive, given its current early stage of commercial development. Waste incineration and landfill gas have both been developed for power generation; the acceptance of waste as a renewable resource has never been fully agreed, although many landfill projects have been developed for power generation.

Electricity Marketplace

3.1 The marketplace for renewable electricity has been driven by regulatory changes. Ten rounds of the invitations-to-tender for power purchase contracts at premium electricity prices (called SRO in Scotland and NFFO in England & Wales) has resulted in 933 contracts being awarded to renewable electricity projects; two of these in the Western Isles (one has Planning consent).

3.2 These premium price power purchase contracts are now followed by regulatory obligations on electricity supply companies that they should source a proportion (initially to be 3% in the year to March 2003) of the electricity they sell from accredited renewable sources. This will create a new demand for additional renewable generating capacity and a consequent derived demand for renewable energy equipment and services (in planning, construction/commissioning and operating/maintenance).

3.3 The UK government has set a target of 10% of all supplied electricity in 2010 to come from renewable sources and an interim target of 5% in 2003. The current actual figure is less than 3%.  These targets are part of the broader UK commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as set out in the Kyoto Protocol.  In Scotland, existing renewable electricity output amounts to 11% of Scottish electricity consumption. The Scottish target is to increase this to 18% by 2010.

3.4 In addition to the intended Renewables Obligations on electricity supply companies, there are also the developing plans to create a marketplace to trade emissions certificates; the recent imposition of Climate Change Levy on all non-domestic consumption of gas, coal and electricity and the new infrastructure of negotiated agreements for energy savings in many energy-intensive manufacturing sectors of the economy.

3.5 In short, the time is right to seek to develop the local infrastructure to be part of this rapidly changing renewable energy arena. The creation of WIAREP with an active programme of initiatives is central to devising and realising renewable and sustainable energy objectives, together with taking forward the Community Planning agenda in the Western Isles.

Aims of WIAREP

4.1 The Partnership believes that the Western Isles have considerable potential for renewable energy generation and for the further development of sustainable energy systems and is keen to identify the opportunities and constraints within this field.  The aims of WIAREP are therefore to:

• Promote renewable and sustainable energy projects in the Western Isles.
  
  
• Improve the co-ordination of activity in this field between interested parties in the Western Isles.
  
  
• Work collectively with local organisations, Government and industry to develop the potential of the Western Isles as a focus for energy innovations.
  
  
• Provide a strategic view for renewable energy developments in the Western Isles which can help minimise impact on landscapes and habitats of national/international importance.
  
  
• Develop and implement an action plan that maximises the local environmental, social and economic benefit from renewable energy resources and sustainable energy schemes.
  
  
• Help expand the Western Isles economy by advising and assisting companies to meet the challenges and opportunities in alternative and renewable energy.
  
  
• Identify measures needed to encourage the development of energy related projects.
  
  
• Provide information and services for the benefit of members of the Partnership.
  
  
• Investigate the feasibility of a self sustaining energy development organisation for the Western Isles.

Management Group

5.1 The Management Group will consist of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Western Isles Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage, Western Isles National Health Service Board, Lews Castle College (UHI Millennium Institute) and Tighean Innse Gall.

Management Group Membership

6.1 Benefits:

• Participation at Partnership meetings.
  
  
• The chance to influence issues affecting renewables and energy within the Western Isles
  
  
• Providing support to the aims of the partnership.
  
  
• Recognition of the organisation's support by inclusion of names, logos, etc. on Partnership publicity material.
  
  
• Contact via Email and kept up to date with activities in renewables and energy development in the Western Isles.
  
  
• All mailings (fax/postal/electronic) including press releases etc.
  

Associate Membership

7.1 Open for any business or organisation with a commercial, professional or community interest in sustainable energy and which supports the aims of the Partnership.  Using the contact information already established and other sources of information a consultation exercise will be carried out to promote membership of this nature.  Benefits:

• Providing support to the aims of the partnership.
  
  
• Recognition of the associate company's support by inclusion of names, logos, etc. on Partnership publicity material.
  
  
• Contact via Email and kept up to date with activities in renewables and energy development in the Western Isles.
  
  
• The opportunity to attend the annual Partnership meeting.
  
  
• All mailings (fax/postal/electronic) including press releases etc.

Individual Membership

8.1 The Partnership welcomes support from individuals not covered in the above.  Benefits:

• Supporting the aims of the Partnership.
  
  
• Establishing contact with local issues and expertise within the Partnership.
  
  
• Contact via Email/Fax and kept up to date with activities in renewables and energy development in the Western Isles.
  
  
• The opportunity to attend the Annual Partnership meeting.
  
  
• All mailings (fax/postal/electronic) including press releases etc.

Further Information

9.1 If you or a company would like to become an 'Associate Member' or 'Individual Member' of the Partnership, please contact: telephone 01851 709248 or Email wiarep@cne-siar.gov.uk

Fig. 1 WIAREP and the ENERGY INNOVATION ZONE: Key Linkages Illustration