Letters / Just what has been achieved?
So the grid upgrade connecting Shetland to the National Grid is almost complete.
What this article does not reveal is how much all this has cost, including the Viking wind farm, certainly in excess of £1.5 billion. As Britain now has just about the most expensive electricity in the world it is not hard to see why.
For all their faults, fossil fuels provide much cheaper power than renewables when all factors are considered. This fact has even been recognised by the BBC today.
As Britain continues on a path to more and more renewables, costs are going to rise even higher. How long are energy consumers going to tolerate this vainglorious ambition for net zero? It is looking increasingly likely that this is neither achievable nor affordable.
If we examine developments in Shetland, we can see claims by SSEN that simply cannot be justified. How will this “grid upgrade” enhance security of supply with hundreds of miles of cabling, most of it under the sea, converter stations, and a battery park?
SSEN clearly anticipate problems as Lerwick Power Station will now remain on stand-by with new engines recently installed. Thankfully it will be ready to come to our rescue, but at significant extra cost.
SSE also glosses over the damage caused to the environment here by all their associated works and the gross inconvenience that they have caused to local people.
Most Shetland people are not now fooled, SSE are ruthless developers who disdainfully brush aside any locals who stand in their way.
As we learn to live with the Viking wind farm, we wonder just what has been achieved by all the works here so far and has it all been worth it?
The wind farm stands idle for substantial periods of time. Not only have consumers ultimately had to pay for the works but now are having to pay to keep the wind farm turned off during periods of constraint.
Also, how are the carbon payback figures looking with so much inactivity from the turbines?
The grid upgrade from Kergord to Gremista will not even address the constraint issue to any great extent. Just why have we been saddled with such a chaotic, damaging and expensive energy system which SSE clearly want to add to here?
What solutions do our esteemed election candidates have for our situation?
Frank Hay
Chairman Sustainable Shetland
SSEN reaches ‘hugely important milestone’ as work finishes on Kergord-Gremista link
