Scotland's new energy boom.

Granite could be the latest renewable feather in Scotlands growing energy cap. It's always been plentiful in Scotland and Aberdeen is internationally known as the 'Granite City'. 

However a new level of excitement is surrounding this grey rock as there are many who believe it could bring about a second energy boom and go a long way to further strengthening Scotland's place on the energy map.

I know what your thinking.... How can a rock generate energy?

Well....About four miles straight down from the earths surface, the temperature rises by around 150°C. However, the interesting bit is that where there is granite rock, the temperature can rise by as much as 210°C. This is the temperature that can create hot springs, the likes of which have been used for bathing. But scientists now believe that these same “hot rocks” can provide a valuable source for electricity generation. Most importantly if this source was proven efficient it is yet another feasible renewable energy source for Scotland.

Estimates have shown that a demonstrative geothermal energy plant could be constructed somewhere between Aberdeen and Peterhead, and would generate approximately £750 million of investment in its first 10 years of operation. 

However the whole project is relying on whether or not the subterranean granite can generate enough power to keep the plant running. 

If not...we could always use another spa resort.

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Scottish and Southern buys stake in Fab Burntisland!

Windmills_on_coastline

Firstly, let me apologise for not updating the blog for a while, the business of life took over for a little while, anyway - im back now and not a moment too soon as there are several good stories in the Scottish energy scene, not least the news from a couple of days ago that SSE has bought a 15% stake in Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab). This is an interesting deal for a couple of reasons, firstly it secures the future for a Scottish company manufacturing in the energy sector: As BiFab managing director John Robertson told The Herald:

“The big advantage for the 400 to 500 people at Methil will be long-term certainty of employment because we can see 10 to 12 years ahead. That is very unusual in the fabrication industry.”

The company will now be able to open a new factory and more than double its production of jacket substructures for wind turbines. SSE is committed to buying at least 50 jackets every year from 2014.

Secondly it signals the intentions of SSE to further expand its offshore wind energy capabilities, Ian Marchant the SSE Chief Exec had this to say on the deal:

“It is essential that SSE is able to establish a reliable supply chain, particularly for those elements where manufacturing bottlenecks have already been identified as a significant risk. This investment in BiFab secures a reliable supply of offshore structures for our SSE Renewables business.”

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Scots Less Likely To Switch Energy Suppliers: Study

A very interesting report from Consumer Focus Scotland has been published. Switching Off: Attitudes to switching energy suppliers among disadvantaged consumers details the many issues that disadvantaged groups within Scotlands communities (those on low incomes, lone parents, people with learning disabilities and members of Black and Minority Ethnic communities) have with changing their energy supplier.

Perhaps some of these energy companies would do well to pay heed to this advice, many of the issues highlighted are not with the switch itself but with their own customer service.

CFS have summarised their principal findings as follows:

Key findings included that disadvantaged consumers:

  • Are having difficulty understanding their energy bills and in monitoring how much energy they use.
  • Face problems contacting energy suppliers, with automated telephone lines highlighted as a particular problem.
  • Find that paying for energy is a significant part of their household costs.
  • Are commonly using pre-payment meters, a more expensive way of paying for energy.

On issues around switching energy supplier, those surveyed said that:

  • Cost savings were the main incentive to switch, but this was usually a reactive rather than proactive decision.
  • They were likely to stay with current suppliers for reasons of inertia, uncertainty and anxiety, lack of trust, loyalty or negative experiences of doorstep selling.
  •  If they did decide to switch supplier, they were faced with a significant range of barriers including lack of independent and accessible information; difficulties making comparisons; pressure from existing suppliers to reconsider; and unexpectedly high charges from existing suppliers to switch.
The report can be dowloaded in full in various formats from here.
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Glendoe Won't Be Up and Running Until 2011, Oh Dear

Not the best news to start this site off with but anyway, some things can't be helped. Scottish and Southern Energy has announced that its Glendoe hydro electricity scheme will not be producing any power at all until 2011. This is due to repair needing done on the August rockfall which blocked one of the main tunnels providing water to one of the turbines. On a slightly more positive note SSE has announced that it will be seeking planning permission for two new hydro electric power schemes at Coire Glas (Loch Lochy) and Balmacaan at Loch Ness - the first of their kind in Britain since 1974. We look forward to all of these hydro schemes getting up and running ASAP.

Read thre full story over at the BBC website.

Here's a video of what Glendoe will be like when it gets going!

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