Tag: SSE Renewables

Could this small Scottish community lead the way in clean energy engagement?

East Lammermuir’s Pioneering Approach to Energy Projects

Believed to be the UK’s first Energy Projects Partnership Manager, a pioneering initiative in East Lothian is helping the transition to clean energy.

Up to 14 new electricity infrastructure projects are proposed for the East Lammermuir area, and the local community wanted to ensure that, once all new infrastructure is built and operational, the area is left better than it is today. At the same time, some of the developers in the region recognised the need for a more joined-up way of working. As a result, East Lammermuir is at the forefront of a new approach to community engagement. 

Co-ordinating this effort is the Energy Projects Partnership Manager, a unique role  helping balance the needs of the environment, local residents, East Lothian Council, and the many energy developers working in the area. It’s an approach that could shape how other communities and energy companies can work better together in the future.

Energy Projects Partnership Manager Beth Landon has just marked her first six months in post. Beth operates as a bridge between developers, residents, and East Lothian Council, helping all parties navigate competing priorities and complex plans.

Beth said: “For the communities where these developments are taking place, the pace and complexity of change can be challenging. And where multiple projects are happening at once, communities can struggle to stay informed and engaged.

“The construction of substations, grid connections, wind farms, and transmission lines can feel overwhelming, even when residents support the principle of a greener future. As the much-needed transition to clean energy grows, it is vital we learn lessons from the past, bringing communities and developers together early on with an agreed, collaborative approach. 

“I was attracted to this role because I saw an intention for all the partners to combine forces behind the implementation of a community-led vision for East Lammermuir, one in which the community is an equal partner and has genuine agency, which is articulated in their Local Place Plan.

“The potential to carve out a new approach together is incredibly exciting and I feel extremely privileged to be working alongside such a visionary community.”

The post is funded by SP Energy Networks (SPEN) and SSE Renewables, and supported by a wider steering group of energy businesses, East Lothian Council and chaired by East Lammermuir Community Council. 

Beth’s role is hosted and supported by Foundation Scotland, an independent charity already familiar with the area and trusted by local partners, offering both independence and expertise. Foundation Scotland worked with the steering group to develop Beth’s role, and as host, provides her with access to a broad national network of those who work on community benefit and other citizen-led funding models. 

Chris Bruce, Chair of the local Community Council said: “The pace of change proposed in East Lammermuir has heaped lots of additional work on the eight members of the community council.

“Whilst we have tried to step up as volunteers and respond as best we can, having a reliable, almost full-time person working constantly has made a huge difference to what we can achieve in trying to make the best of the unavoidable developments that are happening around us.”

Since starting in post, Beth has made significant progress in building relationships with local residents and ensuring that communication around the various energy projects is clear, timely, and accessible.

Engagement is improving with key local forums such as the Traffic and Biodiversity Groups which play a vital role in connecting community priorities with developer plans. Beth has also supported the Community Council in developing a strategy for managing incoming community benefit funds, ensuring that local investment reflects long-term aspirations. 

Residents from the Community Traffic and Travel forum said: “In just six months, Beth’s calm and purposeful approach has transformed a community frantically battling with a complex tangle of energy development projects and proposals into a well-coordinated programme.

“Beth is an invaluable single point of contact holding regular meaningful meetings with developers and the community alike. Beth provides clear and timely updates that allow the East Lammermuir community to feel that they have a voice that gets heard.  We are moving from firefighting to clear communication management and forward-planning of community benefit projects.”

There is already growing interest in and recognition of East Lammermuir’s model. In a national landscape where energy developments are expanding fast and public trust can be fragile, this small East Lothian community has shown that there is another way forward – one built on dialogue, partnership, transparency, and respect – quietly shaping how communities and industry can work together to power a fairer, greener future.

Consent granted for controversial Berwick Bank wind farm

‘A VERY DARK DAY FOR SCOTLAND’S SEABIRDS’

One of the world’s largest offshore wind farms has been granted consent by the Scottish Government.   

Located approximately 38km from the Scottish Borders coastline at St Abbs, Berwick Bank wind farm will have an estimated capacity of 4.1 gigawatts (GW) which, with current technology, could generate enough electricity each year to power every household in Scotland around twice over.  

In recognition that the site of the development is also considered a highly important area for wildlife, consent for the construction and operation of the wind farm is subject to the developer, SSE Renewables, producing a detailed sea bird compensation plan outlining how adverse impacts on seabirds will be compensated for.   

This plan will need to be approved by Scottish Ministers ahead of Berwick Bank proceeding.   

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Ministers have given the Berwick Bank wind farm application extremely careful consideration.  

“The decision to grant consent to Berwick Bank is a major step in Scotland’s progress towards achieving net zero and tackling the climate crisis, as well as supporting national energy security and growing our green economy.  

“It is also an important decision for Scotland’s renewables sector, and this investment will be further built upon through the delivery of Scotland’s significant future pipeline of offshore wind projects under the ScotWind and the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing rounds. 

“We will continue to work closely with the developer and key stakeholders, including those working in fishing and conservation – to minimise the impact of the development on the marine environment and other marine users – and balance the needs of people and nature.”   

Berwick Bank will have an estimated capacity of 4.1GW which, with current technology, could generate up to 11.2 TWh of electricity annually – enough to power around 17% of UK households – or enough to meet Scotland’s needs TWICE over.

A DARK DAY FOR SCOTLAND’S SEABIRDS

RSPB Scotland commented: “A dark day for Scotland’s seabirds. We’re incredibly concerned @Scotgov have granted consent for the Berwick Bank windfarm, which could catapult some of our most vulnerable species toward extinction.

The Scottish Government have granted consent for SSE Renewables proposed Berwick Bank offshore windfarm. RSPB Scotland, together with partners, had called for plans for the mega offshore windfarm to be refused to protect our globally important seabirds. 

The development is close to iconic colonies like the Bass Rock – home to the world’s largest colony of Northern Gannets. It’s estimated that the windfarm will kill tens of thousands of seabirds over its lifetime, including Kittiwakes, Puffins and Gannets. 

Although Scottish Ministers require the developers to demonstrate that “sufficient” seabird compensation will be put in place before the project can start, it is not clear how the thousands of seabirds predicted to be killed can be compensated for. 

A Puffin covering its face with its wing.
Puffins are under threat

Devasting decision

Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland, said: “This is a very dark day for seabirds. It is a terrible decision on a really bad development. 

“Berwick Bank would be catastrophic for Scotland’s globally important seabirds which are already facing alarming declines. In addition, its impacts are so damaging they will make the relative impacts of other windfarms significantly higher. This one windfarm is going to make it really challenging to accelerate renewable projects across Scottish seas. We are incredibly concerned that Scottish Government have granted consent for a project which could catapult some of Scotland’s most-loved seabird species towards extinction. 

Anne McCall

“RSPB Scotland recognises climate change is one of the biggest threats to seabirds, but there needs to be seabirds left to save. We support nature-positive offshore wind, in the right locations with minimised impacts on wildlife, and measures to restore and protect seabird populations. But this is predicted to be one of the most damaging windfarms for birds we are aware of anywhere on the planet. 

“We will be carefully scrutinising the details of the consent documents over the coming hours and days and considering what further steps we will take.”