In a Scotland which produces more than its needs in renewable energy The Orkney News today looks at what each of the political parties is offering for our Energy Future in the General Election 4th July.

Energy is a power retained by the UK Government so whoever is in No10 Downing Street will determine our Energy journey over the next few years. Each political party has to produce a manifesto declaring what its policies will be should it be elected into power. Leaving the World’s largest Free Trade Market may have been secured by a slogan on the side of a bus, but in the General Election, you will decide, based on the manifesto commitments of each party, who gets your vote.

The Conservatives:

In their manifesto the Tories say that energy is one of the policies that they are putting first. As this is in amongst in total 4 issues, perhaps the concept of ‘first’ has passed them by.

The manifesto is about ‘sticking to the plan’, and ‘stopping the boats’ – with the benefits of Brexit thrown into the mix. It commits a Tory Government to reach the magical Net Zero by 2050. This includes, however, ensuring annual licensing rounds for oil and gas production from the North Sea – take note Scotland.

• the windfall tax on oil and gas companies introduced in 2022 will remain in place until 2028-29, unless prices fall back to normal sooner – expected to bring in £26billion.
• new gas power stations will be built
• offshore wind capacity will be trebled
• carbon capture projects will be built in north Wales and the North West of England, Teesside and the Humber. This will extend to Aberdeenshire.
• scaling up of nuclear power with Great British Nuclear and two new fleets of Small Modular Reactors. The planning time to have new nuclear plants approved will be cut by a half.
• a new gigawatt power plant will be built at Wylfa in North Wales

Labour.

The Labour Manifesto stresses its plan for change with what it describes as a return to national security, secure borders, and economic stability. 

Number four in its plan for change is to set up Great British Energy described as ‘a publicly-owned clean power company, to cut bills for good and boost energy security, paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants.’

• Labour are committed to Clean Energy by 2030 through a Green Prosperity Plan which it says will create 650,000 jobs.
• work with the private sector to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030
• invest in carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and marine energy
• nuclear power – extend the lifetime of existing plants, and complete Hinkley Point C . New nuclear power stations, such as Sizewell C, and Small Modular Reactors to be built
• maintain gas powered stations
• continue with oil and gas production in Scotland’s North Sea but  will not issue new licences to explore new fields.
• no new coal licences and fracking banned (already done so in Scotland by the Scottish Government)
• Great British Energy will have Scotland as its powerhouse.
• upgrade the GB national transmission infrastructure and rewire Britain

Scottish National Party (SNP)

The main thrust of the SNP manifesto is ‘A Future Made in Scotland’ with the slogan ‘Vote SNP For Scotland To Become An Independent Country’.

Delivering Independence is at the top of the SNP’s key pledges in the 2024 manifesto.

N.B. Energy is a power retained in London by the UK Government. The SNP Manifesto describes Scotland as a ‘green energy powerhouse’.

• the SNP will demand the devolution of powers over energy regulation, pricing and production to ensure that Scotland’s natural energy resources are used to best serve the needs of the Scottish people.
• with full powers, Scotland could make changes to the electricity grid system that currently holds back the development of renewable energy in Scotland, including reducing fees for Scottish producers to connect.
• the UK Government must invest at least £28bn a year in the green economy to deliver a step change in public and private investment in net zero and major investment in the domestic supply chain
• accelerate the Acorn Project and Scottish Cluster to secure the fastest possible deployment following the UK Government’s failure to support the Acorn carbon capture, utilisation and storage project at track 1.
• Modernise the Contracts for Difference scheme to enable the stable deployment of Scotland’s renewable energy pipeline.
• Take an evidence-based approach to oil and gas, any further extraction must be consistent with our climate obligations and take due account of energy security considerations
• Support the North East and the Just Transition
• Deliver a sustainable future for Grangemouth.
• No new nuclear power plants in Scotland
• Promote Scotland’s hydrogen export potential.
• Ban new coal licences

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrat Manifesto slogan focuses on a Fair Deal.

• achieve net zero by 2045
• expanding incentives for households to install solar panels
• invest in renewable power so that 90% of the UK’s electricity is generated from renewables by 2030
• provide incentives for installing heat pumps
• maintaining the ban on fracking (already banned in Scotland by the Scottish Government) and no new coal mines.
• coordinating action across the UK by creating a Joint Climate Council of the Nations
• decoupling electricity prices from the wholesale gas price
• support investment and innovation in tidal and wave power 
• end fossil fuel subsidies
• build more electricity interconnectors between the UK and other countries
• empower local authorities to develop local renewable electricity generation and storage strategies.
• support carbon capture and storage and new low-carbon processes for cement and steel production

On nuclear power the manifesto is unclear, however, LibDem candidate in Caithness, Jamie Stone, has welcomed the news that the Tories plan to build a new nuclear power plant at Dounreay for a small modular reactor.

Scottish Green Party (not to be confused with The Green Party, England & Wales)

The Scottish Green Party manifesto NOT YET PUBLISHED, as we go online 17.06.24. Existing policies call for a nuclear free Scotland and the end of oil and gas production.

Scotland is the key to energy production in the UK.

This article will be updated once both the SNP and Scottish Green Party publish their manifestos.

At this UK General Election, 4th July, you will require Voter ID if you are voting in person. Find out more and apply for free voter ID now – Voter ID

Candidates in Orkney and Shetland

Fiona Grahame