The pausing of a major wind farm off the coast of Orkney is a tangible example of the damage being done to the islands by a UK energy system that is no longer fit for purpose.

That was the claim from SNP candidate Robert Leslie after developers of the West of Orkney windfarm announced it will not be built unless unfair transmission charges are overhauled.

The move by the developers of the 125-turbine wind farm, which had planned to generate enough electricity to power two million homes by 2029, has already cost jobs and will have a massive impact on potential supply chain work for  local firms.

Robert Leslie said:

“This is a major blow to the local economies in Orkney and across the Pentland Firth, and  a grim reminder – as if we needed another – of why the UK’s private energy system needs urgent overhaul.

“The Labour UK Government has stated that it won’t address this unfairness because they don’t want London and the Midlands to pay more. We need to be clear that the majority of new wind farms being built in Scotland are not to supply the Scottish market but to supply England.That contribution to England’s energy security is met with higher prices in Scotland. It needs to end.

“The north of Scotland faces charges of roughly £7.34 per megawatt hour, while southern England faces around £0.40 per megawatt hour. An independent Scotland, taking Scotland’s energy into Scotland’s hands, would be completely overhauled to address this clear inequity.”

Developers state they had plans for 60% of the project to be delivered by UK businesses over its lifetime, with 40% coming from Scotland, and have an ambition to drive skills development and create opportunities for businesses and organisations in Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney, across Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.

They were supporting initiatives in the north of Scotland, including a £1 million research and development programme being led by EMEC in Orkney, a £1.2m education initiative led by UHI, a £125,000 Fit 4 Renewables scheme led by ORE Catapult and £50,000 to support local apprentices in Caithness and north Sutherland.

But the consortium now says the cost of connecting to the electricity network makes it impossible to compete against projects proposed in England.

Mr Leslie said:

“Just as an energy rich Scotland should mean energy rich Scots, an energy rich Orkney should mean energy rich Orcadians. In an independent Scotland that can become a reality.

“We know what is possible. We can see it just across the North Sea in Norway. After the plundering by Westminster of Scotland’s oil wealth, let’s not miss this second opportunity to transform our nation with renewable energy.

“Let’s not let Westminster take the decisions and also take Scotland’s wealth.

“I fully believe we will be better off with independence, better off with Scotland’s future and Scotland’s energy in Scotland’s hands.”