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Wick and east Caithness councillor and Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner highlighted the green credentials of Caithness and Sutherland at a major UK conference this week.
Speaking at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds, Cllr Bremner was part of a delegation from the Scottish Cities Alliance talking about important investment opportunities in the region.
He seized on the opportunity to highlight investment opportunities across Highland, including the Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport, renewables, hydrogen, tourism, and culture, labelling the region as “one of Europe’s best places to invest”.
The council leader aimed to showcase the investment potential of the whole Highland area, with a particular focus on renewable energy and the green economy, and the role that that will play in sustaining and growing the population in Highland.
He also shone a spotlight on Caithness and Sutherland, highlighting that the area produces 432MW of energy, with many more in the pipeline.“West of Orkney Wind Farm will generate 2000MW of energy, MeyGen tidal array is expanding to 28MW with a potential of 398MW, Sutherland Space Port will launch its first vertical satellites in 2024,” he said.
“SSEN Transmissions are investing £20bn this decade in new and upgraded network infrastructure, the area is home to the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site at the Flow Country with millions of investments available in carbon credits. And 2000 tonnes of hydrogen is produced at Gordonbush Wind Farm in Sutherland.”
The leader told delegates: “The Highlands is fast becoming recognised across the world as a hub for green energy generation.
“We have access to unparalleled natural resources with existing and potential opportunities for green energy schemes, low-carbon initiatives including carbon sequestration, and renewables. Highland is home to some of the world’s largest companies already and we look forward to welcoming many more.
“It is now time to seize the initiative and invest in making it happen, to secure a fair share of the income derived from the development of the region’s natural resources.”
He added: “Green energy offers Highland new hope and opportunities to provide future generations with the opportunity to develop a highly skilled career without having to leave the region.
“We need to be at the forefront of re-skilling the local workforce to adapt to the demands of Net Zero. We need to engage with senior school pupils around new skills and ensure the training is available to start their career path into the green energy future.
“By investing in skills, working people, and communities we can create a workforce for a sustainable economy in the green energy sector.”
