Isles groups must be connected - call from industry

 Scottish Renewables has called for all three Scottish island groups to be connected to the mainland of Scotland as part of the development of the country's energy industry in the wake of the independence referendum.

Full story from Shetland News here: http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/9357-industry-wants-isles-connected-by-2020

UK Prime Minister 'hopeful' of Westminster-Holyrood deal on subsea interconnector

UK Prime Minister David Cameron used to his visit to Shetland to state his hope for a deal between the Westminster and Holyrood Governments on a subsea electricity interconnector between Shetland the Scottish mainland, which would open up the isles' potential as a centre for renewable energy. Full story from Shetland News here http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/8927-cameron-hopeful-of-deal-on-subsea-cable

Caithness-Moray subsea interconnector cable gets green light

Approval from energy regulator OfGem for a £1.2bn, 1.2 gigawatt  subsea electricity cable across the Moray Firth from Caithness to Moray will boost renewables developments in far north.

Story from Windpower Monthly here: http://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1303166/scottish-subsea-wind-link-given-green-light?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Governments promise isles interconnector "irrespective of referendum result"

The Westminster and Holyrood governments have jointly committed themselves to connecting Shetland to the UK power grid, no matter what the result of the September referendum on Scottish independence.

At a meeting in Glasgow UK energy secretary Ed Davey and Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing reaffirmed both governments' commitment to 'interconnectors' which would make major renewables projects on the isles viable. The total cost is likely to be around £1.5 billion. Shetland's connector alone will be about £600 million.

Full story from Shetland News here: http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/8769-governments-make-grid-connection-top-priority

Major local windfarm initiative for Yell and Unst

A windfarm of up to 200MW could be built across the islands of Yell and Unst, after 18 local companies formed a united front aimed at capitalising on the proposed 300km interconnector between Shetland and Scotland. The 'Energy Isles' project could bring 'jobs, money and community benefit, according to one of those involved. Full story from The Shetland News here. http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/8060-firms-plot-big-windfarm-in-yell-and-unst