News archive - Week ending 11th January 2008

WRAP Appoints Director for Scotland

The Waste and Resources Action Programme has appointed Frank Mulgrew as its first Director for Scotland. He will manage a new, dedicated office in Scotland. WRAP said the new position underlines its commitment to the country and to helping drive forward the National Waste Plan.

Frank Mulgrew said: "It is a great privilege to be appointed WRAP's Director for Scotland. At a time of unprecedented change, WRAP has underlined its commitment to Scotland by making this appointment. I look forward to working with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to implement the National Waste Plan and to contributing to the wider climate change agenda."

WRAP has provided support to the Scottish Government over the last five years in its roll-out of the National Waste Plan, which aims to push recycling to 55% by 2020.

Loch Ness Hydro-electric Scheme on Target

A tunnel-boring machine, measuring 650ft in length, has emerged from the ground at the site of the Glendoe project, near Fort Augustus, marking a significant step in the development of this major hydro-electric scheme. The breakthrough comes 16 months after tunnelling began at the £140million scheme, which will create Scotland's first conventional, large-scale, hydro-electric power station for 50 years. The scheme is projected to produce around 180million units of electricity in a year of average rainfall and is on schedule to open in the first part of 2009.

The drilling machine has created nearly five miles of tunnels and climbed almost 2,000ft in height. Development of the tunnels will allow water from the new reservoir, being built 2,000ft above Loch Ness, to reach the underground power station near the south-west corner of the Loch before being discharged into the Loch itself.

New Biomass Plant Opens

Finance Secretary, John Swinney, has officially opened the Angus Biofuels' site near Forfar. The new £1.2m plant employing 20 people will supply the growing biomass energy market with high-quality dry woodchips manufactured from clean roundwood, harvested from sustainable forests. Mr Swinney said: "This exciting project is another clean, green energy source which adds to Scotland's renewables mix.

The Angus Biofuels projects (for several boiler installations and for the biomass plant) have received £800,000 in grant funding from the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme.

Scotland Focuses on Renewable Energy

The Scottish government has outlined its commitment to energy generated from renewable sources in the light of the UK government?s plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations. Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said, "John Hutton knows well the strength of feeling in Scotland against developing unwanted and unnecessary new nuclear power stations. The UK Energy Bill provisions on nuclear power do not extend to Scotland. This is a great success for the Scottish Government. New statistics show that Scotland in 2006 supplied 92.5% of its energy needs from fossil fuels, renewables and pumped hydro storage. The risks and uncertainties of new nuclear power, in terms of waste disposal, decommissioning, security and health concerns, or cost, are obviously far too great?.

He added "Our agenda is clear - Scotland does not want or need new nuclear power. We have massive potential for alternative clean, green energy. The installed renewables generating capacity already exceeds that of nuclear. In 2006, overall electricity generation in Scotland increased by nearly a tenth, while electricity generated from nuclear power in Scotland decreased by a quarter.?

The latest Energy Trends Report (January 2008) shows that in Scotland, between 2005 and 2006:

- Electricity generated in Scotland increased by 9% (4,363 Gigawatt hours GWh) to 53,609 GWh
- Electricity generated from nuclear power decreased by 24%, mainly due to unplanned outages at nuclear stations. As a result, nuclear's share of generation fell from 38% to 26% in Scotland.
- Electricity generated by renewable sources (apart from hydro natural flow) increased by 46%
- Scotland in 2006 could have supplied 92.5% of its energy needs from fossil fuels, renewables and pumped storage; an increase from 72.9% in 2005
- Continuation of the rate of growth in these other renewables would result in achievement of Scottish renewable electricity targets of 31% by 2011 and 50% by 2020
- Installed renewables capacity in Scotland is now approximately 2,731 Megawatts (MW), while nuclear capacity is 2,400 MW.

Green Pledges for 2008

The Minister for Environment Michael Russell is urging people to sign up to one or more of the Scottish Government's 10 Greener Pledges in order to reduce their impact on the local and global environment.

The 10 Greener Pledges are:

- Recycle household waste using locally-provided facilities
- Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth
- Switch to using energy-saving light bulbs
- Leave the car at home at least once a week and cycle, walk, share a car or use public transport more often
- Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones
- Reuse carrier bags when you shop
- Buy more seasonal and unpackaged food
- Hang your washing up to dry rather than using a tumbler dryer
- Organise or volunteer in an environmental project in your local community
- Pay back the environmental impact of any flights you take and choose not to fly when there's a suitable alternative

Mr Russell said, "Climate change is a challenge for all of us. It is already affecting the world around us - with Scotland already seeing the affects through increasing temperatures and dramatic increases in rainfall in the winter. Every time we throw away rubbish, get in the car or turn on the lights we are leaving our mark on our planet. But we can - and must - do more. Our 10 Greener Pledges offer everyone the chance to go greener in 2008 and make a real difference. Most of them are simple but very effective ways of becoming more environmentally-friendly. Together, even by making some small changes, we can contribute to a greener Scotland in 2008."