22
Jan 2009 - Edinburgh,Scotland - One of the
world’s largest wave stations is to be constructed
in the Western Isles of Scotland. Scottish
ministers have granted consent for npower
renewables application to operate a wave
farm with a 4MW capacity at Siadar on the
Isle of Lewis.
It is one of the first
marine renewable energy projects to be approved
in the UK and follows the recent launch
of the £10 million Saltire Prize.
“These kind of near-shore
wave machines will be important for many
of Scotland’s coastal communities in the
future and we welcome the go-ahead for this
pioneering scheme,” said Dr Richard Dixon,
Director of WWF Scotland.
“Scotland is a world
leader on exploiting wave power and continued
support for these green energy schemes will
deliver huge export benefits in technology
and expertise.
“We want the Scottish
Climate Change Bill to set tough targets
to drive Scotland towards a low-carbon economy
and clean, green energy will be an important
part of that transition.”
Scotland’s First Minister
Alex Salmond said: “Today’s announcement
is a significant step in Scotland’s journey
to become a world leader in renewables.
The Siadar wave farm will be one of the
largest consented wave electricity generating
stations in the world. It is the first commercial
wave farm in Scotland and is starting with
a capacity to power around 1,800 homes.”
The Scottish Government
granted consent in September 2007 for a
3 MW array comprising 4 Pelamis machines
at the European Marine Energy Centre in
Orkney. The Pelamis machines float on the
surface of the waves, as distinct to the
40 turbines (4MW) at the proposed Siadar
wave energy station, which will be encased
within a concrete breakwater structure.
The government's Energy
Consents Unit is currently processing 30
renewable project applications - 23 wind
farms and seven hydro projects, with more
applications expected. Their target is to
meet 50 per cent of electricity demand from
renewables by 2020, and an interim target
of 31 per cent by 2011.
+ More
WWF plans next phase
for sustainable aquaculture standards
27 Jan 2009 - Comprehensive
certification for sustainable aquaculture
came closer to fruition today with an announcement
by WWF that it would co-found the Aquaculture
Stewardship Council to take eventual possession
of the global standards for responsible
seafood farming currently being developed
by the WWF-supported Aquaculture Dialogue
roundtables.
The new body, modelled
on the highly successful and world leading
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for wild-caught
seafood, will be responsible for hiring
independent, third-party auditors to certify
farms that are in compliance with the standards.
WWF is funding the development
of a business plan for this new venture,
which is expected to be in operation within
two years, and will contribute funding to
implement the plan.
More than 2,000 farmers,
conservationists, government officials and
others participate in the open Aquaculture
Dialogue meetings – making this the world’s
most inclusive and transparent process for
creating measurable, performance-based standards
for aquaculture. WWF, which coordinates
the Dialogues, is one of the stakeholder
groups engaged in the process.
“This is an unprecedented
effort to ensure that future aquaculture
is environmentally sustainable, and also
well positioned to meet the growing demand
for seafood worldwide,” said WWF-International
Director General James Leape.
“These new standards
will raise the bar in the industry, giving
consumers assurance that their food purchases
are helping to protect the environment.”
Over the next year,
draft standards for minimizing the key environmental
and social impacts associated with aquaculture
will be completed for nine aquaculture species
that have the greatest impact on the environment,
highest market value and/or the heaviest
trading in the global market. They are salmon,
shrimp, trout, pangasius, abalone, mussels,
clams, oysters and scallops. Draft standards
for tilapia were posted for public comment
in September 2008 and are expected to be
completed this spring.
“This investment aligns
perfectly with WWF’s goal of protecting
the world’s oceans and coastal habitats
while providing innovative paths for feeding
the world more efficiently and sustainably,”
said WWF-US President Carter Roberts,
“With a credible entity
in place for certifying farmed seafood,
the seafood industry can continue to grow
but in a way that is environmentally responsible.”
A key component of the
business plan will be following the International
Social and Environmental Accreditation and
Labelling (ISEAL) Alliance’s guidelines
for certification programs – the world’s
most reputable guidelines for addressing
social and environmental issues. None of
the existing aquaculture certification schemes
have governance structures that are in compliance
with ISEAL. The MSC and Forestry Stewardship
Council, also co-founded by WWF, are ISEAL
compliant.
