Also in the news / Tidal report, Unst storytelling, ScotWind concern and more…
ISLES MP Alistair Carmichael has welcomed a report by an offshore energy research centre that has suggested tidal stream technology could become cheaper than nuclear by the middle of next decade.
A new report published by Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult said unit costs could be cut significantly over the next 20 to 25 years, reaching £50/MWh by 2047.
The sector is meanwhile calling for continued ringfencing of support for tidal stream in the government’s upcoming clean power auction (Contracts for Difference), and a commitment to a target of 1GW of marine energy by 2035.
Carmichael said: “The report suggests that something in the region of 45 jobs could be created for every megawatt of tidal stream power deployed.
“If we live up to the aspiration of a gigawatt of marine energy by 2035 then the potential gain in jobs and growth speaks for itself.
“Now is the moment to back the industry in the UK fully and allow it to capitalise on potential exports to the coming global market for tidal stream.”
LOCAL comedian Marjolein Robertson is heading to Unst later this month to take the stage at the Uyeasound Hall to entertain the audience with The Story of Auslag: A Saga from Unst.
Based on the story of Andrew T. Cluness’ Trouble with Trolls from his collection Told Round the Peat Fire, the event is part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.
The story dates back to the 800s and follows an Udaller’s daughter Auslag as she faces challenges, becomes an outcast and continues to persevere for her family and community.
The story branches out further, with Cluness combining several Unst folktales and stories into one larger epic.
Robertson said she was excited to be able to tell the story with its individual tales.
Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start on Saturday 29 October. Tickets are £5 on the door.
Meanwhile, Robertson will be on BBC Three tonight (Tuesday) at 10pm competing in the new comedy awards semi-final.
ORKNEY and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael says it will be an “absolute scandal” if local people do not see the benefits from renewable energy projects in the form of increased community benefit.
And he said he could not understand “for the life of me” why the Scottish Government had imposed a cap of £100,000 per square kilometre of seabed for bids in the recent ScotWind auction.
Carmichael was speaking during a debate on offshore wind development in parliament on Tuesday.
During the debate Kenny MacAskill of the Alba party said the Scottish Government had brought in just £700 million while a much smaller area auctioned off New York recently generated $4.3 billion.
Carmichael said: “The sheer enormity of the gap between the funds the SNP-Green government secured in the ScotWind auction and the wealth gained by others elsewhere raises serious questions about the soft touch approach taken by ministers.”
THE LOCAL branch of the SNP recently donated £500 to the Shetland Foodbank.
The cheque was presented to foodbank organiser Davie Grieve by the party’s local secretary and candidate in the Westside by-election Zara Pennington.
“We didn’t create the foodbanks, Tory austerity did that, but they are a fact of life for more Shetlanders now than ever,” she said.
“The safety net, we pay our National Insurance for, that we assume will help us if we lose a job, or become ill, is no longer adequate to scrape by on, and wages for many are just not sufficient to survive on.”
Accepting the donation, Grieve said: “Shetland Foodbank has no party-political interest. We simply exist to support anyone who needs our support when they struggle to put food on the table.
“Last year we gave 900 parcels of a weeks’ worth of food, to individuals and families but by the end of August this year we’d already passed that figure with four months to go. Not only that but we are having to support people for longer than usual”.
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