SCOTS are being “ripped off” by new plans for a multi-billion “super highway” to transport renewable energy generated in Scotland to England, a former government minister has claimed.
A 500-kilometre electricity link will stretch from Aberdeenshire to North Yorkshire and is part of a major push to modernise the energy grid.
While the link will be able to carry electricity in both directions, the bulk is expected to flow from Scotland to England.
The announcement is a coup for the new Labour government as it will allow ministers to point to reforms to the UK regulatory system with the aim of making Britain a “clean energy superpower” by 2030.
But the announcement has sparked criticism, with Alba saying the link would siphon Scottish renewable power “from under our noses”.
Former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill (below), who served as the MP for East Lothian until the election, said: “We are witnessing a massive transfer of renewable energy resources, from offshore wind, from Scotland to England, without any economic revenues, major manufacturing or supply chain jobs coming to Scotland.
“Scots are being ripped off. Our massive wind energy resource is being cabled south, from under our noses. Meanwhile, the companies rake in the profits and our people are forced to pay sky-high energy bills or go cold.
“This massive renewable energy windfall should be powering Scottish homes and businesses, while at the same time putting Scotland in a prime position to amass additional revenues by exporting excess energy south.”
He said that a change in government had brought “no change in policy”, adding: “Scotland’s enormous resources are exploited while Scots families are seeing their fuel bills go through the roof.”
SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald (below) made similar claims on Twitter/X. Responding to the news, he wrote: "Keeping the lights on in England – ‘despite being able to carry electricity in both direction, the majority from the link is expected to flow out of Scotland’.”
Ofgem said it is pushing to fast-track the approvals process for power projects to help the UK meet its 2030 net zero carbon emissions target.
The new cable project will be able to move two gigawatts of electricity between Scotland and England.
The regulator also announced provisional approval for a £295m funding package for a set of upgrades to the electricity grid in Yorkshire, which will improve grid connections in the north of England.
Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley said: “Ofgem is fully committed to supporting the Government to meet its aims of getting clean power by 2030.
“Today’s announcement is a further step in putting the regulatory systems and processes in place to speed up network regulation to achieve its aim.”
