Salmond dives in with underwater power link to Europe

ALEX Salmond has set out his vision for a massive underwater energy grid in the North Sea that would link Scotland with five European countries.

The First Minister said the idea of the grid has gone from being "blue-sky, or blue-sea, thinking" in a year to being on the verge of winning support from European Union leaders.

He believes that it can be in place in 20 years and could turn Scotland into "the green energy capital of Europe". He said: "This is our second windfall in the energy lottery."

Speaking at a publication of a preliminary report into the idea, Mr Salmond said the Scottish Government would now actively go out to hold discussions with other countries about a full feasibility report into the idea.

"This pre-scoping study defines the potential for a full study to examine the technical, economic, social and financial feasibility of the development of an offshore transmission supergrid," he said.

Mr Salmond said there had been expressions of interest from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany and the Netherlands, and he is looking for partners to share the study's £400,000 cost and give the scheme international weight.

Mr Salmond also said that Andris Piebalgs, the EU energy commissioner, was very interested in the plan after several discussions with him.

"I have previously written to EU energy commissioner Piebalgs to ask that the case for a supergrid be included in the forthcoming strategic energy review," he said. "We are hopeful that our case will be considered positively in the review when it is published."

The First Minister also hopes that the grid will help push forward plans for renewable energy in Scotland and off its shores. He claimed that Scotland would exceed the target of 31 per cent of supply being provided through renewable energy by 2011 and 50 per cent by 2020.

The grid "is a major step forward in realising Scotland's renewable energy potential – which can make a big contribution to Europe and the world in moving to clean, green sources of energy", he said.

"Scotland has a clear, competitive advantage across the range of renewable technologies, with up to 25 per cent of Europe's offshore wind, wave and tidal energy potential."

He said that similar plans for a grid in the southern section of the North Sea off England could also come forward and may be ready before the Scottish one as the water is shallower. However, he said that, ultimately, the grid in the northern section of the North Sea had far more potential for renewable sources.

He also said that the technology for the grid was being developed in Scotland, at Strathclyde University, which has research programmes on allowing efficiency transfer in deep water.

"It will allow us to explore the opportunities associated with the development of an offshore transmission network, and help make the case for commercial investment.

"We will continue to work with our North Sea neighbours and the EC with a view to formalising a partnership to make the exciting concept of a supergrid a reality.