Scotland considers renewable energy options

Despite rejected plans for an onshore windfarm scheme in the Isle of Lewis this week, options still remain open for further renewable development in the region, the Guardian reported this week.

According to the newspaper, renewable energy generated by wind power could be Scotland's answer to non-nuclear-generated electricity, although it is not the only option to consider.

The Stornoway Gazette reported that Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan claimed that the islands are now set to work on ways to further economic development, part of which is likely to include a renewable energy generation scheme.

"I believe that renewables will play an important role in that development - both wind and wave, and the Scottish government has indicated its clear commitment to this," he said, although he added that not every application - such as was the case for the proposed Lewis windfarm - is right for the region.

Meanwhile, the Guardian suggested that a feed-in tariff for green energy supply may be a positive way to encourage people to generate their own renewable electricity - the excess of which can be fed into the National Grid - and highlighted a similar scheme in Germany as an example of how this can be done successfully.