Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse has said he is "extremely disappointed" over the UK Government's approach to wind energy projects on Scottish islands.

In its Contracts for Difference announcement yesterday, 09 November, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) stated it would hold consultations on whether to treat onshore wind projects on remote islands differently from onshore wind projects on mainland Great Britain.

Minister Wheelhouse said Scottish Ministers and members of the Scottish Island Renewable Delivery Forum had been misled on promised support for island wind projects.

"I am extremely disappointed, indeed angered, by the UK Government's handling of this vitally important issue," he said. "The Scottish Government repeatedly sought assurances from UK government ministers about their plans to support renewable energy projects through the Contracts for Difference auction.

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"The UK government has misled Scottish Ministers and the members of the Scottish Island Renewable Delivery Forum on the promised support for island wind projects. The island projects have already waited for too long for the decision promised by Andrea Leadsom in September 2015."

Minister Wheelhouse has now called on the Secretary of State to reconvene the Forum to explain the decision. In addition, he urged the UK Government to take a new approach with Scotland on energy issues, particularly with the marine energy sector.

"The marine sector has progressed more in 2016 than in any previous year and Scottish firms are in a dominant position," he said.

"Edinburgh firm Nova Innovation has deployed the first two turbines of its Shetland Tidal Array; Atlantis Resources has installed the first four foundations of the world's largest planned tidal stream array in the Meygen project in the Pentland Firth; and Orkney-based Scotrenewables has begun testing the world's largest tidal turbine device at our flagship European Marine Energy Centre.

"In this triumphant moment for the sector, it is extremely disappointing that BEIS has reneged on its earlier commitment to provide a minimum allocation for wave and tidal stream technologies. We look forward to detailed discussions with the UK Government to agreeing a way forward for this exciting industry."

(LM)