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Scottish Renewables members have been told they can no longer rely on subsidies from energy bill payers across the UK to make a profit.
The warning was from Liberal Democrat Ed Davey as he addressed the Scottish Renewables annual conference in Edinburgh, The Telegraph has reported.
Instead, Mr Davey said Scotland's wind farm companies would have to compete with green energy providers in countries like Norway and Ireland to supply the remainder of the UK. He added it would be much more difficult for wind farms to provide energy at a competitive price if they were to rely on subsidies from just two-and-a-half million households, rather than more than 23 million homes across the UK.
He admitted it would be a "daunting task" that would be further undermined by separation, but he rejected the SNP’s claim that the remainder of the UK would have to buy a separate Scotland’s green energy.
He added: "An independent Scotland will be just that – independent – treated by the UK as just one of a number of countries it could buy renewables from.
"We are pursuing a number of interconnection projects with our European neighbours, including Norway and Ireland. For an independent Scotland, this would potentially represent serious competition. If the UK were to look beyond its borders for renewable energy, we would need to consider which sources provide the cheapest and most reliable options for our people."
Davey's words follow a YouGov survey, conducted on behalf of Scottish Renewables, which found 62% of people would be happy for a large wind farm to be built in their council area. However, the poll did reveal concerns over the effects to Scotland's tourism industry, with 31% unable to say whether the presence of a wind farm would affect their decision to visit an area.
Mike MacKenzie, an SNP MSP, said the survey showed Scots "are enthusiastic" about renewable energy.
However, a campaign group called Scotland Against Spin is to stage a march on Saturday at the SNP's spring conference in Inverness. The march will be in protest at the spread of turbines across Scotland's countryside.
(JP)
