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An island councillor has urged the electricity grid operator, Scottish and Southern Energy, to accept more output from community turbines.

Restraints on the network within the islands has created a waiting list for a grid connection for new developments.

Until a sub-sea Minch interconnector is built, earmarked for around 2019, many community windfarms are operating below their optimum levels.

Stornoway North councillor Gordon Murray suggests upgrades to the present on-island grid network would enable additional output to come on stream.

He has written to Energy Minister Fergus Ewing, saying an increase from the present 20MW local grid capacity to possibly 60MW would be beneficial to local projects.

Mr Murray highlighted: “The lack of capacity in the local grid is preventing many of these community turbines to export generated energy and thus raise income.

“Would the Scottish Government consider supporting such an initiative for the islands given the tremendous opportunity such an increase would bring to the economically fragile communities in the authority.”

 

 

 

 

Local grid improvements needed to boost community turbines

24 March 2015