Energy
ISSUE 21 | WINTER 2020/21
MATTERS
R100: Superfast broadband still on course n
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It’s time the renewables industry joined the circular economy Re-power or refurbish? The choices for wind farm owners Cross-border benefits of the growing carbon market How drones helped to speed up a condition survey
CONTENTS
WELCOME
Don’t let Covid-19 slow vital investment in renewables The coronavirus pandemic – and the Government’s ever-changing response to it – has pushed the UK into new uncertainties, bringing even greater confusion than during last year’s Brexit turmoil. Social restrictions to limit the spread of the virus have put the brakes on activity, hitting businesses and employment hard with the full impact yet to be seen, while measures aimed at keeping the economy going have pushed public-sector debt to a record £2 trillion. Sooner or later we’ll have to pay, through some combination of higher taxes, tougher conditions or lower public spending. Although it is sometimes difficult to appreciate, Covid-19 is hopefully a relatively short-term problem and decarbonising the economy will be the big challenge of the 21st century, or at least the first half. As part of a global push to address climate change, Britain is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. By a happy accident of geography, the UK is one of the world’s best countries for wind. Power from onand off-shore turbines contributed 20% of UK electricity generation last year – more than half the total that came from renewable sources
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and with ongoing development this is set to further increase. we’re also generally good at developing the engineering and digital skills needed for a greener economy, not least because of the quality of research-led innovation at British universities. The UK has long been a driving force in energy. This success may have derived from fossil fuels, but progress is often about adapting. The continuing development of technologies such as wind can serve our needs in ways that are largely better for the environment, and nurture the skills we’ll need to take them to the world. More than most, we benefit from producing entrepreneurs capable of leading the way in energy, storage and clean technologies, and the investment markets necessary to fund them. As active advisers on the property aspects of energy and infrastructure, we see innovation every day in our work with our clients. Our willingness as a country to invest in energy innovation will determine how quickly we emerge from this period of uncertainty and experience the long-term benefits.
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Energy Matters is produced by Allerton Communications, London, and designed by George Gray Media & Design, Saint-Andeux, France. © CKD Galbraith LLP.
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6 Home economics: Working from home has put energy and connectivity high on the agenda for remote workers.
14 Tree of life: As the third Woodland Carbon Guarantee auction approaches, a growing market offers a range of benefits.
4 Green credentials: It’s high time the renewable energy industry joined the circular economy.
13 Re-power or refurbish? As wind farm leases near their end, owners and developers must consider their options.
8 COVER STORY: R100, the Scottish Government’s £15 million push to boost connectivity – and the economy – is making progress.
11 Beyond RHI: Subsidies for green heat for buildings are poised for a shake-up.
10 Scoot to commute: Electric scooters go on trial in England.
7 B+: The trouble with Energy Performance Certificates.
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18 Action plan: Dynamic mapping is becoming a vital working from home tool for clients, contractors and advisers.
Bright ideas: Delivering a low-carbon economy will need innovative ideas, and the Scottish Government is putting up £1 million to boost development.
Phone ruling: A Scottish Lands Tribunal confirms radio mast operators must justify lease renewals.
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23 Water crisis: Shrinking reserves and growing demand paint a grim picture.
12 Making a claim: Covid-19 restrictions meant finding an alternative approach to compensation negotiations.
Electricity pricing: Covid-induced turmoil shows it’s time for a rethink.
16 Flying high: Drone technology speeds up a condition survey of difficult terrain.
20 Wood works: Timber buildings have been around for thousands of years, but new ways of using wood are giving it a new lease of life.
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Power up: A two-wheeled marvel makes light work of Scotland’s hills.
Current renewable energy subsidies.
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It’s high time the renewable ene joined the circular economy Generating clean energy is all very well, but not enough attention is being paid to what happens when equipment reaches its end of life, says Calum Innes.
Anyone who remembers the Brent Spar episode will appreciate the importance of energy companies cleaning up after them – and the potential for controversy. That was all about decommissioning a floating oil storage installation in the north Sea after its time had come. Despite independent scientific support for Shell’s proposals, it lost the PR debate following a slick campaign by Greenpeace. The energy group learned lessons and changed its approach to offshore decommissioning in the UK and how it operated everywhere. Similar considerations apply today and potentially more so, given growing public concern over conservation and how human activity affects the world and everything in it. And it’s not only oil companies that are in the spotlight but increasingly, those who proclaim their green credentials. For all its environmental benefits, renewable energy is of limited use if solar panels and wind turbine blades go straight to landfill after generating their last kwh. There was a time companies made things, marketed and sold them without much thought about what happens where they’re surplus to requirements. Those days are over. In advanced economies, strict regulation dictates how electronics, chemicals, plastics and vehicle parts are removed from the supply chain. Questions about end-of-life disposal and the potential for recycling rank alongside revenues and return on investment for manufacturing and trading businesses and their financial backers. The circular economy is here to stay.
Greenpeace protesters sent a clear message to Shell about Brent Spar in 1995.
not long ago we told in Energy Matters how experts at the University of Strathclyde were working on a process to give new life to redundant wind-turbine blades that would otherwise go to landfill. The institution’s Advanced Composites Group is developing a technology to recycle the giant glass-fibre sails as high-value material for vehicle manufacture, construction and aviation. As wind farms become more efficient at generating low-carbon electricity, demand for turbines will continue to grow along with their dimensions – and the need to dispose of blades responsibly at the end of their useful lives. Researchers at the University of Leeds advocate the application of circular economy principles to reduce the environmental cost of low-carbon infrastructure such as offshore wind turbines, solar panels and batteries – all of which are
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required if the UK is to achieve its net-zero carbon targets. Dr Anne Velenturf of the university’s School of Civil Engineering estimates that failing to learn from the mistakes of oil and gas and nuclear infrastructure decommissioning could lead to the low-carbon infrastructure sector incurring significant losses of carbon savings and a cleanup bill four to 10 times higher than anticipated by industry. “It is important to learn from previous decommissioning experiences and enable the integration of circular economy approaches into the design, operation and end-of-use
rgy industry
management of low-carbon infrastructure sectors,â€? she said. At Galbraith, I spend much time considering the future decommissioning costs of renewable energy developments at the end of their operational life. Unfortunately, the development of appropriate process and technology to maximise value, energy and recovery of ďŹ nite
resources from recyclables is not being pursued at the rate these assets are being deployed. The lessons of Brent Spar should not be forgotten and I concur with Dr Velenturf’s views. The big surprise is, this needs to be pointed out to the renewable energy industry.
calum.innes@galbraithgroup.com
07909 978643
galbraithgroup.com | energy Matters | Winter 2020/21 | Page 5
Filling the energy gap for home workers
Working from home has put energy and connectivity high on the agenda for remote workers. Meanwhile, pollution levels are inching back up. Callum Woods reports.
AT The time of writing (September 2020) a significant proportion of Scotland’s workforce is still working from home, and the home office has become one of the most important rooms in the house. A reliable internet connection is a must, as streaming videos and playing games play second fiddle to downloading files, accessing the remote server, hosting Zoom and MS Teams meetings, and – in our case – using mapping software. It may now be time to search for broadband deals with higher speeds as opposed to the cheapest tariff; your system may well have to support both parents working needs and perhaps a young adult starting at university, who may find themselves receiving lectures online instead of celebrating freshers’ week. Strange times indeed! It is worth bearing in mind that if you are in Scotland and must still work from home you can access an increased allowance of £26 a month via the HMRC website to help with increased energy costs. Homeowners in England can be eligible for up to £5,000 towards improving the energy efficiency
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of their properties as part of the Green Homes Grant scheme, while in Scotland support will be provided via the warmer Homes Scotland Scheme (HEEPS). The scheme is mostly used to install new boilers or insulation, but it can also be used to contribute to renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind. More than 20,000 households have benefited from the scheme with most receiving more than £4,000. People who own their home or are private tenants and spend more than 20% of their household income, after living costs, on heating their home could be eligible for a further increase in funding. Interest-free loans are also available to improve a home’s energy efficiency. The unprecedented reduction in the use of cars, public transport and aircraft initially saw air pollution levels around the country – and the globe – drop significantly when full lockdown measures were introduced. This was particularly noticeable in major cities as all but essential services ground to a halt. For example, in the Indian capital of new Delhi, by the fourth day of lockdown air quality had improved by 40-50%.
It’s not easy to win in the rating game EPCs not only indicate a building’s energy performance, they also provide minimum regulatory standards and can set the level for renewable-energy subsidies. Calum Innes describes his experience. AS I embark on building a new house in an elevated and exposed location, I’ve been thinking how it might be possible to achieve an A-rated energy Performance Certificate. what I have discovered is that under the current EPC scheme, it’s a lot harder than it looks. To reduce potential heat loss from the building, I specified a degree of insulation considerably higher than required to meet building regulations; so I was disappointed to discover that due to the way EPCs work, this would have no bearing on the rating. The same applies to other energy efficiency measures such as high-specification windows or the air tightness of the building fabric. The problem appears to result from the system being designed to measure performance of existing property, in which efficiencies are more difficult to identify and measure than with new-build. The purpose of the EPC system is to provide a benchmark upon which Government can act by means of incentives and penalties to improve energy efficiency in buildings. This is partly for the safety and comfort of people, but also to help meet the UK’s 2050 net-zero emissions target – buildings being major energy users.
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It may now be time to search for broadband deals with higher speeds as opposed to the cheapest tariff.
Closer to home, however, a report by Defra assessing the impact of lockdown measures to the end of April has revealed that overall concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5) have been higher in this period than in previous years. It is thought that unusual weather patterns, including winds from Europe, helped to push levels higher than normal. As lockdown restrictions have eased, air pollution levels are rising. In June London saw a 34% rise in nitrogen dioxide from the lowest level during lockdown. According to one study by researchers at the University of Stirling, PM2.5 air pollution did not decline during the lockdown in Scotland. High air pollution levels are almost certain to negatively affect those with or who are recovering from Covid-19 and make those with underlying health conditions more susceptible to infection. All this has put extra pressure on UK and Scottish Government plans to reduce emission and greenhouse gas levels. callum.woods@galbraithgroup.com 07824 142069
Anyway, it seems greater weight is given to retrospective measures rather than to embedded efficiencies. Accordingly, retrofitted insulation, double glazing, solar panels or low-energy lighting are all elements that carry precious points. I spoke to an EPC assessor who advised that increased insulation gives a diminishing return on investment, which I suppose makes sense in that the ‘payback’ on the investment will get longer as you increase the insulation value i.e. the time taken to recover the investment through reduced energy costs. To my surprise he added he’d never seen an A-rated EPC, only high B ones. His overall advice? “How about aiming at a level below, and save money in the design specification.” It probably makes sense given the circumstances outlined above, but I am rather disappointed that we might not achieve first class honours! In summary, my brief encounter with a system that I thought was relatively robust, given its important statutory standing, has left me questioning how accurate the data really is.
calum.innes@galbraithgroup.com
07909 978643
galbraithgroup.com | energy Matters | Winter 2020/21 | Page 7
Challenging times fail to blow superfast internet off course A £15 million push to boost connectivity – and the Scottish economy – is making progress. Nick Morgan reports.
When the Scottish Government declared its intention of 100% coverage of the country with superfast broadband, little did it expect a global pandemic to hold up progress. while the initiative is well supported by many, drilling down to the hard facts of what is being delivered shows the challenges being faced. Galbraith has been helping framework contractors to deliver third-party consents including obtaining the wayleaves from landowners, tenants’ consent to works, and environmental and planning permissions to allow the electricity connections powering hundreds of broadband cabinets. we have helped with more than 400 connections since 2018 and given we are nearing the end of a rather stop-start 2020, we can say with conviction – tempered with a little uncertainty – that the R100 programme (Reaching 100%) will be all but completed on target by December 2021. The Scottish Government estimates that the scheme will help to deliver more than £2.76 billion of value to the economy over 15 years, with every £1 of public funding expected to deliver £12 of benefits. Meanwhile, our compatriots in England aim to see 15 million premises connected to “full fibre” using what is called an “outside in” approach – start rural and head towards the cities – by 2025. England is more openly ambitious, with a £5
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work on this ambitious, vital project shows how reliant we have become on good connectivity as we find ourselves isolating either through choice or necessity.
Distribution of new broadband cabinet installations assisted by Galbraith. Numbers denote multiple sites in close proximity to each another.
billion commitment aiming for gigabit-capable speeds (1,000 megabits or technically 1,024MB!) whereas Scottish counterparts have preferred to talk about a planned minimum of 30MB per second. we are helping clients who are operating cross border so this does at least demonstrate a joined-up approach. Excellent progress has been made across all three regions – north, Central and South Scotland – but many challenges remain. we have encountered resistance to locating power cables on private property in spite of the prospect of better connectivity for owners and the local area. This can be for several reasons, including someone simply protecting their land from potential disturbance. Owners – and occupiers – must be assured of mutual respect for property and quality reinstatement after an installation. In reality, the mechanics of an exchange location can also mean coverage still doesn’t reach the site concerned. The initial focus in Scotland was on more concentrated populations and as these networks develop, more remote, harder to reach areas are also being addressed. This is especially so in the case of “easy” targets where several cabinets are clustered. Generally, rural areas are a greater
engineering and logistics challenge as the distance from exchanges increases. More recently, logistical challenges have been exacerbated by political factors, necessitating new hardware supplies that are due for delivery in late 2020. next come areas such as the Highlands and Islands and, perhaps surprisingly, several locations in the Central Belt. For the hundreds of sites earmarked in these regions, a recently released batch of cabinets will enable a push for Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). That means some 300 private and 100 public locations will be powered up after wayleave consent is granted. work on this ambitious, vital project shows how reliant we have become on good connectivity as we find ourselves isolating either through choice or necessity. I hope this means communities will embrace the need for additional infrastructure on their land. That way, we can communicate, boost e-commerce and generate wealth so that work continues safely whether there is another lockdown or not.
nick.morgan@galbraithgroup.com 07717 227404
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Greener commuters take to scooters E-scooters may be controversial but their appeal to commuters makes it likely they’re here to stay. Richard Higgins reports.
AS those who have managed to visit some european cities recently, despite lockdown, will attest, the growing popularity of electric scooters is remarkable. As we report elsewhere in this issue, e-bikes – traditional cycles with batteries fitted to boost riders’ pedal power – are gaining ground among the health-conscious. Yet while the realistic range for an un-sweaty commute into city centres has been extended, the last mile or two of travel could be set for a revolution. In July 2020 electric scooters became legal on roads in England, Scotland and wales, and the Government has set out a 12-month trial in a limited number of locations. How might this affect our emerging post-Covid cityscape, where social distancing makes public transport less attractive and commuter numbers are curtailed while many continue to work from home? How will this impact on our more traditional means of transport in city centres, including buses, trains, trams and private hire taxis? There are challenges in embracing an e-scooter culture. At present it is only possible to hire scooters through a share-scheme; you need to be over 16 and in possession of at least a provisional driving licence. Cycle helmets are recommended but not legally required. we are familiar with renting bikes and returning to a docking station, but e-scooters can be left almost anywhere and are collected either by the next user or the operator who recharges and redistributes overnight. In September Coventry became the first city to suspend an e-scooter scheme over safety concerns. Their rental was “paused” after users were seen mounting the pavement and riding in shopping areas – both banned activities. The potential for quick travel around towns and cities is accepted, but there are environmental considerations such as carbon emissions, not only from manufacturing and distribution, but from operation and recharging. Still, given the Government’s commitment to electric transport, it seems unlikely e-scooters will be banned outright or their use greatly restricted by law. whatever the outcome, the trend towards mobile battery-powered transport is an important step in our movement towards lower carbon transport.
richard.higgins@galbraithgroup.com 07717 581741
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Ministers mull ideas in drive to promote green heat for buildings The UK Government is rethinking its subsidy for green energy in the form of heat and calling for ideas on how to replace it. Calum Innes reports. The lockdown strained public coffers and there are more calls than normal on public money. So it’s no surprise ministers wish to drop another subsidy after ending the Feed-in Tariff for green electricity sources such as solar PV. Attempts to limit greenhouse gas emissions often focus on transport, but it’s worth remembering you don’t have to be on the move to pump out CO2. Heating homes, businesses and industry is responsible for a third of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, and decarbonisation of heat is a big challenge in meeting UK climate targets. Buildings contribute some 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint, according to the Green Building Council. Heating alone accounts for 10% of the UK’s carbon footprint and homes are more significant than all other building types put together. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has been seeking views
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Government needs to take more radical action with both ‘carrots’ and ‘sticks’.
on options for the future support for low carbon heat, beyond the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which is due to end for non-domestic use on 31 March 2021 while the subsidy for householders has been extended a further year. A BEIS consultation sets out proposals for • a Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) – increasing the proportion of green gas in the grid through support for biomethane injection, • a Clean Heat Grant – support for heat pumps and biomass through an upfront capital grant to help address the barrier of upfront cost, and • budget control and financial management of the spending proposals for green gas and buildings technologies. The ministry has also published consultations on non-domestic RHI to ensuring a sustainable scheme and an
outline of changes to RHI schemes. BEIS is working with devolved administrations to implement the proposals across Great Britain. The Government has traditionally adopted a carrot and stick approach, such as combining subsidies encouraging investment in decarbonising technologies with prohibitive rules such as banning the installation of non-condensing boilers from 2005 and indeed the Chancellor’s recent announcement to ban gas heating in newbuild homes by 2025. Electricity generation has been cleaned up substantially in recent years with the move from coal to renewable energy such as onand offshore wind and the continued use of nuclear. But the decarbonisation of heat has stalled badly. The take-up on carbonising technologies, namely biomass boilers, has been much greater than the response for non-carbonising heat pumps methods such as air-source and groundsource heat pumps and solar thermal. Galbraith maintains a watchful eye on the correlation between energy efficiency and value in relation to domestic property, and the relationship continues to be more opaque than common sense would dictate. The firm commissioned research on this topic more than a decade ago and at that time we appeared to be on the cusp of energy efficiency being a measurable factor impacting upon value. However, despite the driver of Energy Performance Certificates, other factors appear to maintain a higher weighting. Government needs to take more radical action with both ‘carrots’ and ‘sticks’. As noted, we have seen a significant uptake in small scale biomass boilers; however, heat pumps, which offer vastly better green credentials, appear to remain the favoured technology of the environmentally conscious rather than the masses. The Government must act to change this position and actively encourage renewable heat if it is to have any prospect of fulfilling its climate change aspirations. Removing the RHI for domestic and commercial heating, without a similar or better replacement, can only discourage investment in clean heat, whatever the rules say. This consultation closed in July and BEIS is expected to publish its report in due course.
calum.innes@galbraithgroup.com
07909 978643
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Compensation claims progressed in spite of lockdown upheaval Covid-19 restrictions brought the need for an alternative approach to negotiating compensation claims, says Rachel Russell.
A SUBSTAnTIAl part of the country’s utility infrastructure relies on large networks of pipes and cables that pass across or under privately owned land. when it’s time for essential services to be upgraded, replaced or renewed, it’s important that the owners or occupiers have their rights properly represented. This is just as true during the challenging times we have witnessed this year as at any other time. The opportunity to have face-toface site meetings was limited, but evidence was still required to substantiate losses so that land owners and occupiers could be fairly compensated. Many people with an interest in land were due compensation for losses incurred this summer, whether it was a subsequent year claim or compensation due as a result of a recent road, rail or utility related scheme. Compensation would normally be negotiated and agreed on-site, but as this was not possible, evidence was key.
Crop loss on a Scottish farm.
Modern technology meant there was no need for negotiations and
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settlement to be put on hold until restrictions eased. By facilitating “site meetings” over video calls or progressing negotiations with video and photographic evidence, compensation claims on the whole continued to be negotiated while the Covid-19 restrictions were in place, ensuring that claimants weren’t out of pocket due to delays in face-to-face meetings. The circumstances witnessed this year are unprecedented, but the need for supporting evidence to back up a compensation claim is not a new concept, rather its importance has been heightened. The benefits of communication technologies apply in the rural sector as much as anywhere – more so perhaps. we urge anyone who proposes to raise a compensation claim to engage the other side and start collating supporting evidence early on as a matter of course, not only in 2020 but in the future too.
rachel.russell@galbraithgroup.com 07884 657219
Generation game: Time to re-power or refurbish? As wind farm leases near their end, owners and developers must consider their options. Mike Reid reports. MAny wind farms which were erected to benefit from subsidy income under the Renewable obligation (Ro) Scheme are approaching the stage when developers are looking to review options for future generation from the site.
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Developers and landowners should review all the relevant aspects before committing to a further agreement.
One possibility is re-powering – that is, erecting new turbines and potentially increasing the installed capacity from the wind farm, subject to any grid or access constraints, before decommissioning the existing turbines. Refurbishment is another option which is becoming more popular with developers. Often when turbines were initially installed the focus was on productivity for the duration of the RO scheme, which also governed the length of the lease – often no longer than 25 years. Leases for subsidy-free developments are generally in excess of 35 years as developers look to maximise the generating potential from any site rather than linking generation to the duration of the relevant subsidy scheme. Subject to various performance factors, many developers are finding that the existing turbines can be refurbished, so potentially they can continue generation for up to 20 more years. The cost of refurbishment can be significant, but it avoids the additional expenditure of increasing grid capacity and any other infrastructure improvements. Developers need to obtain planning consent to extend the lifespan of the wind farm, as well as agreeing terms to extend the length of their lease where refurbishment is a possibility, and we have agreed a number of options to give developers these rights. This needs to be the right choice for both parties and a detailed review of the existing lease terms to make sure they are fit for purpose in any extended lease period is critical. Refurbished wind farms may be the way forward for a number of schemes reaching the end of their initial deployment timescale, but developers and landowners should review all the relevant aspects before committing to a further agreement.
mike.reid@galbraithgroup.com 07909 978642
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Growing carbon market offers cross-border benefits In our Summer 2020 issue, we reported on new interest in the carbon market. Now, as the third Woodland Carbon Guarantee auction approaches, Heather Coyle reports on the benefits of the scheme. In lATe 2018, the Woodland Carbon Guarantee (WCaG) was announced by Forestry Commission england – a £50 million scheme which aims to incentivise woodland planting to mitigate the effects of climate change and permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The woodland Carbon Guarantee provides landowners with the option to sell captured carbon in the form of verified carbon credits, called woodland Carbon Units (wCUs), to the government for a guaranteed price every five or 10 years up to 2055/56. The wCaG contract price is determined via a sealed bid reverse auction. Once the auction closes contracts are awarded to sellers who have submitted the lowest bids. Following the online auction process, successful bidders will be offered the option to sell wCUs to the government over 35 years at a guaranteed price protected against inflation. The scheme reflects the government’s confidence in the continued growth of markets for woodland carbon, as landowners will have a revenue stream in future from selling carbon on the domestic market. The scheme is not available in Scotland, but it does provide both direct and indirect benefits. Direct benefits include a developing interest in the purchase of upland hill ground for planting in the Borders of Scotland. This is reflected in the recent inflation of the price per hectare. Upland hill ground in the Highlands usually sells for £2,000–£3,000/ha, but prices in the Borders have now risen to circa £4,000/ha. This reflects companies’ growing awareness of the importance of the carbon market, while also obtaining the additional asset of owning of a woodland. Indirectly, the previous auctions can now give us a better understanding of the average price of a wCU. The average price of bids accepted in the second, most recent, auction was £19.71 per wCU. This provides reassurance to Scottish landowners in a burgeoning market. In September 2020, Fergus Ewing announced a further £100 million towards the Forestry Grant Scheme, ensuring funding beyond December 2020. This, combined with further certainty in the carbon market, makes tree planting a very attractive prospect.
heather.coyle@galbraithgroup.com
07825 382084
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Boost for projects to deliver lowcarbon economy Calum Innes reports on a Holyrood initiative to kick-start ‘green and clean’ energy projects. hUGe strides are being made in renewable energy and clean technologies and frankly it’s hard for busy people to keep up with developments, let alone evaluate which ones present the best opportunities. So it’s good to see help being made available for those wishing to invest in ‘green and clean’ projects. The Scottish Government is to consider backing large-scale private, public and community lowcarbon energy generation and energy efficiency projects with money and other support. The aim is to stimulate investment and maximise the potential of the low-carbon sector while reducing greenhouse gas emissions through Holyrood’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme. LCITP will invest £1 million or more in low carbon heat and/or renewable electricity for buildings and local energy systems to help achieve net zero emissions by 2045. Helping with project development, advice and finance, LCITP has been involved in more than 20 demonstration projects and developing 30-plus early-stage projects. Instead of prioritising established technologies such as solar, biomass or energy-from-waste, the scheme will focus on heat pumps, heat networks, waste water heat, geothermal, hydrogen, electric heat, heat recovery, thermal storage, electric storage, anaerobic digestion, bio-gas and grid services. Projects should deliver innovative technologies and systems to play a part in building modern, integrated energy systems delivering reliable, low-carbon energy at affordable prices to consumers in all parts of Scotland by 2045. This will interest some people and organisations we work with, many with ideas to deliver integrated low
carbon and/or renewable electricity, heating or storage solutions, but who need external support to help turn their aspirations into reality. whatever one thinks about taxpayer funding, my experience tells me that effective pumppriming is often necessary to allow ambitious green projects to see daylight. Historically Scotland has produced many pioneers who have played a role in changing the world. Current generations share this resourcefulness and I hope that this opportunity will encourage the realisation of innovative projects that will make a real difference to
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Development support of up to £50,000 is available to help projects that have a viable feasibility study.
delivering low-carbon energy solutions. A further proviso is that projects should also have potential to catalyse green recovery from the economic challenges imposed by Covid-19. The world will face many challenges following this pandemic; however, I hope that sustainability is not a casualty. Development support of up to £50,000 is available to help projects that have a viable feasibility study. They must provide a minimum 50% matched funding towards the cost of the business case. Applications closed in August and it will be interesting to see what projects emerge from this approach. If you would like to know more, please contact Galbraith or email me directly.
calum.innes@galbraithgroup.com
07909 978643
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Flight fantastic: drones speed Drone technology means the role of remote aerial inspection is growing. Nick Morgan reports.
upward downward and forward vision sensors, dual gimbal and choice of payload. The ‘Matrice’ UAV continuously provides accurate positional data, allowing pinpoint geo-tagging of information.
BeFoRe any significant works are carried out affecting land or just about anything else, it’s important to obtain a satisfactory record of conditions, in case of disagreement or problems later on.
“To allow the UAV to fly throughout the day we used a DJI TB50 battery charging station, so we could complete the project within the required timescales.”
we at Galbraith have been working collaboratively with an aerial and subsea services company to ensure that detailed ‘pre-records of condition’ are taken prior to work on some 3,700 acres of grazing land. The site has a myriad of features such as dykes, ditches, watercourses, sheep fanks, tracks, roads, peat banks, grazing paddocks, and football pitches, demonstrating the diversity of obstacle that any one project can present. Each has its own intrinsic value to a landowner and the landscape, and , if they are disturbed, there can be financial
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Combining advanced technology with traditional surveying can bring excellent data accuracy and also save time and cost. consequences in terms of either reinstatement or compensation for loss. Galbraith is skilled at assessing these losses, with experienced land agents, agricultural and sporting specialists to call upon. HebDrone, which provides unmanned aerial vehicles as well as remotely operated subsea vehicles, was commissioned because of the scale of the project and because the landscape to be crossed was relatively unchanging and in some instances boggy, making it difficult to obtain a full overview from ground level. “The planning phase of any operation is key to the success of any project,” said Conal Ferguson, director of HebDrone. “This looks at several aspects including safety, access and choice of unmanned aerial vehicle. The UAV we selected for this operation was the DJI Matrice 210 RTK. “This UAV is IP rated – a key benefit here in the western Isles, and has an integrated first-person-view camera,
Greater analysis will be made upon completion of the work, which involves installing miles of underground cabling in areas that potentially have been compacted and damaged by construction traffic and needs to be measured to assess reinstatement or financial losses. Ordinarily this would be evaluated physically on site, but HebDrone can measure these areas quickly and accurately without the need to set foot on land. Galbraith sees this as a fantastic tool, supplemented by on-site review to ensure the locations are fully assessed. HebDrone can supply data in completed digital source modelling maps, or with ‘point cloud data’ in several accepted formats, with accuracy down to millimetres. At Galbraith we import this information into our bespoke mapping software, allowing further review and mapped output that can be used during discussions and negotiations. Conal Ferguson said: “As with all new technologies, it can be a challenge to integrate UAVs and their associated reporting and software programmes into existing working practices, but our work ties in with a wide range of applications showing the power of aerial and subsea inspection and surveys. “The current pandemic we are all working through allows us to look closely at current methods and investigate where changes can be made. The collection of data by UAV will not negate the need for qualified personnel to analyse and make decisions but it allows data to be collected in a safer and more cost-effective manner.” Combining advanced technology with traditional surveying practices can bring excellent data accuracy and also save time and cost. There remains a slight disconnect between the data that can be produced and what is a clear format for review by those unfamiliar with GIS, but the gap is getting smaller all the time.
nick.morgan@galbraithgroup.com 07717 227404
Page 16 | energy Matters | Winter 2020/21 | galbraithgroup.com
up condition survey
galbraithgroup.com | energy Matters | Winter 2020/21 | Page 17
Subset of view of national dataset showing infrastructure assets for National Grid.
Remote working is on the map Dynamic mapping is becoming a vital working from home tool for clients, contractors and advisers, says Daniel Campanile. The use of geospatial information has for some time been moving away from paper and static digital maps – and it’s the same for how we store it. Physical copies in a paper file or even digital snapshots on an office server limit the effective use of this material. The Covid-19 lockdown first removed and even now limits our ability to acquire information from a file in the office. And there’s the technical challenge of ensuring stable access to stored documents on office networks while working from home. These restrictions highlight the importance of secure cloud-based systems that can be accessed with ease and flexibility. These new circumstances apply as much to GIS (geographic information system) data as to more conventional materials and since so much of what we do at Galbraith is geospatial work, part of the solution for us has been to use online maps – webmaps. These enable key team members, contractors and clients on a project to access, view and if necessary edit key GIS information. The potential for this technology is vast, but for now we are using it in two broad ways: First – as a reference tool. we have created business stream-specific webmaps with relevant data that goes considerably beyond what you’d find on Google Maps, an internet search or on webmaps owned by public bodies.
A project-specific webmap.
In our energy and utilities business, with permission from key utilities, we host interactive maps with national geospatial datasets – location information linked to data such as an address, city or postcode – of their infrastructure alongside other important data ‘layers’. These maps can be accessed and used securely by the relevant staff members regardless of where they are, provided they have an internet connection. Second – for collaborative projects. Increasingly we use these technologies to support geographically disparate teams both internally and externally for project-specific work. These bespoke webmaps contain GIS data that is relevant only to the specific project involved.
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Potential uses for these maps vary depending on the roles of team members. A contractor with a specific technical role may use them for inputting new information directly onto the map so other staff can view or if appropriate verify it; a client project manager requiring only a high-level overview could use it to aid wider project monitoring or to help plan and target subsequent phases of work. As we continue what looks like a shift towards working from home, the use of these technologies can only increase and become more normalised.
daniel.campanile@galbraithgroup.com 07500 794928
E-bikes: higher, further, faster Robert Garrett heads for the hills – and lets the battery take some of the strain.
ritual to check the weather forecast for the coming weekend and plan a route for the dry bits of this bonnie land. However a good set of waterproofs is always close at hand.
lonG before the words Covid, lockdown and e-bikes became part of everyday vocabulary, my wife and I invested in a couple of electric mountain bikes or e-MTBs as they are known.
we have made good inroads at completing sections of both the Speyside way and the Great Glen way and around the forests of Rothiemurchus and Inshriach near Aviemore.
Our particular bikes are produced by a German company called Cube and are ideal for the road, along forest tracks or disused railway lines or even on some of the less challenging downhill tracks you will find at Glentress or wolftrax mountain bike centres, both of which we have ridden despite our advancing years!
More recently we ventured across to Fort william and the Ardgour/Arisaig regions. A cycle from Loch Sheil up the famous Glen Finnan was particularly enjoyable, though we did appear to be closely chaperoned by the local gamekeeper who I have no doubt was making sure we didn’t unnecessarily stray off the access road.
Good quality e-bikes with a good motor and battery typically start around £2,000. we recently replaced our original bikes with the new 2021 models which have a more powerful, easier to pedal Bosch motor and a larger capacity lithium battery enabling us to plan longer routes – up to 100 miles – without the worry of running out of juice before we return to base.
next summer Rannoch Station to Fort william is definitely on the agenda.
By design e-bikes are ‘pedal assist’ and not purely driven by the motor which means everyone still gets a good cycling workout, albeit with plenty of help and even the steepest of hills can be tackled without rising from the saddle.
Exploring the countryside can be so much fun and made all the easier with help from a little electric motor. Our bikes have been a great investment for us on a personal level. If you are interested, the Energy Savings Trust can offer support in purchasing an e-bike, making it a much more attractive proposition and one we would wholeheartedly recommend. So what are you waiting for? There’s an adventure waiting out there for all of us, and who knows – maybe we’ll bump into you along the way.
Our real love however is packing the car, loading the bikes – and sometimes dogs – and heading off to parts of Scotland we’ve either not been to before or not fully explored. Our preference is to stay off road and go in search of those slightly out-of-the-way or longer routes we might only contemplate while watching Landward or one of the other countryside programmes. we live just South of Perth, so we are ideally placed to strike a route across Scotland in almost any direction, and it has become a mid-week
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Even the steepest of hills can be tackled without rising from the saddle.
Traversing the various tracks and back roads of this beautiful country it is always interesting to stumble across the various sporting estates that Galbraith manages, and it is extremely reassuring to see so many Galbraith signs at farms sold or private properties for rent.
robert.garrett@galbraithgroup.com 07717 227391
Robert Garrett’s dogs come along for the ride in Achray Forest, Trossachs.
galbraithgroup.com | energy Matters | Winter 2020/21 | Page 19
Sky-high ambition: the new generation of timber buildings Buildings have been made from wood for thousands of years, but new ways of using the material are giving it a new lease of life. Paul Schofield reports.
ConCReTe and steel are an integral part of the built environment but are responsible for an estimated 13% of global carbon emissions.
comparable to concrete and it can be used for all elements of a building’s superstructure including walls, floor and roof.
As concern grows about climate change and the need for greater sustainability, interest in wood as a climate-friendly alternative has increased.
Austria published the first national guidelines for using CLT in 2002 which made possible its wider acceptance as a material in multi-storey buildings. Because of its favourable structural properties, ease of prefabrication and comparative lightness compared to concrete and steel, CLT is now being used more widely in the design of mid and high-rise buildings and there are now many examples of large wooden structures in the UK, Europe, USA and further afield.
This interest has further accelerated with the development of crosslaminated timber (CLT), which has rapidly gained popularity as a construction material over the past few years and is now being used all over the world in ever taller and more complex wooden buildings. CLT was first developed and used in Austria and Germany in the early 1990s. It is a group of engineered wood products comprising sheets, panels, posts and beams made by gluing layers of solid sawn timber together alternately at right-angles. The physical properties of wood change depending on the direction of the force applied. Gluing layers at right angles therefore achieves rigidity in both directions, improving structural integrity and dimensional stability. Kiln dried timber is used with a low enough moisture content to eliminate the risk of pest or fungal attack. when manufactured from suitably cut, dried, machined and graded timber, the structural capabilities of CLT are
This rising interest has led to an increase in factories producing CLT. Until recently, most CLT was made in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia but within the past five years factories have opened in Japan, France, Latvia, Australia, USA and Canada. Despite the involvement of many UK firms as leading innovators in its use, there is currently no large-scale producer of CLT in the UK. CLT panels are usually constructed from spruce, although it can be manufactured from larch, Douglas fir, pine and other timbers. while higher strength grade timber is typically used by European manufacturers, trials by napier University and industry partners have
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established that the lower grades of structural timber grown in UK forests are also suitable for CLT production if correctly graded. However, there are technical challenges surrounding the viability of CLT from UK material compared to CLT from European timber, principally the number of rejections from defects caused by kiln drying to a significantly lower moisture content, typically 12% instead of the usual 20% for other sawn timber. The significant additional costs associated with CLT production and easy accessibility of high quality European products are disincentives to establishing large scale manufacturing facilities in the UK. Although still in its infancy as a viable construction material in high-rises, the development and uptake of CLT has been rapid and there are already numerous examples showcasing its considerable potential. Dalston Lane residential development in Hackney, east London is a pioneering CLT project completed in early 2017. Although only 33 metres high, it is the largest contiguous load-bearing timber building in the world with 4,649 cubic metres of CLT and only seven tonnes of steel beams used throughout. The completed building achieved a net carbon footprint of –2,600 tCO2e, compared to +2,000 tCO2e for an equivalent development using concrete. The 8,000 tonne difference in weight between CLT and concrete allowed another three storeys to be added. The 10-storey 25 King office block in Brisbane was completed in 2018 and is Australia's largest all-
what would be the world's tallest wooden building in Tokyo at 350 metres, containing 90% or 185,000 cubic metres of wood.
The tallest timber building in the world is Mjøstårnet in Brumunddal, Norway, seen here nearing completion.
The most obvious concern about highrise timber buildings is the fire risk. CLT is designed to perform well in fires, building up a layer of char which can provide a substantial margin of fire resistance depending on the size and number of panels. PLP believe that their building will eventually meet or exceed existing fire regulations for steel and concrete buildings. However, the Hacket Review of building regulations and fire safety that followed the Grenfell tragedy, has had a major influence on the construction industry, restricting for now the use of structural timber walls in buildings taller than 18 metres.
Picture: Øyvind Holmstad.
timber building at 52 metres high. Compared to using conventional materials, environmental benefits included a 74% reduction in embodied carbon (carbon dioxide emitted during the manufacture, transport and construction of building materials). The 20% weight saving allowed more area to be allocated as functional space and construction time was significantly reduced by off-site prefabrication. The tallest timber building in the world is Mjøstårnet in Brumunddal, norway at 85.4 metres, an 18-storey mixed-use building completed in March 2019. Following the trend for timber high-rises, PLP Architecture and the University of Cambridge are researching a design concept for London's first wooden skyscraper – the 300-metre 80storey Oakwood Timber Tower at the Barbican. Meanwhile, the Japanese company Sumitomo Forestry has revealed plans for
The growth of CLT has been driven by practical and financial benefits as well as by clear environmental advantages. The embodied carbon of CLT is low compared to other materials because, apart from using comparatively little external energy in its manufacture, carbon is stored during tree growth and for the duration of its use. At the end of its life as a building material, carbon is released through natural decomposition or through the generation of energy from burning, both highly efficient waste disposal solutions compared to other materials. As the only sustainable alternative to concrete and steel, wood is once again establishing itself as a versatile, cuttingedge building material perfectly suited to the times. For timber growers and managers, it is another indication of how important well managed forests, and the products they produce, will continue to be in the future.
paul.schofield@galbraithgroup.com 01738 456064
Thanks to Alex Brownlie of A & R Brownlie Ltd. for his contribution to this article.
London's first wooden skyscraper, the 300metre 80-storey Oakwood Timber Tower at the Barbican, is still only a concept.
A LONG HISTORY OF BUILDING WITH WOOD WOOD has been used as a primary building material in the British Isles since Neolithic times, when communal longhouses accommodating 30 people were among the largest structures in the world. As technology progressed with the discovery of copper, bronze and iron, it was possible to process and use wood with increasing efficiency. By the beginning of the Iron Age, Britain’s population had reached more than a million and it is estimated that 50% of woodland had already been cleared to satisfy the demand for timber.
By the Middle Ages, advances in timber frame construction culminated in structures like the hammer-beam roof of Westminster Hall, above, the largest Medieval timber roof in Northern Europe, commissioned in 1393 by Richard II. From this period onwards, the preeminence of wood was gradually eroded by innovations such as brick and structural iron work. When reinforced concrete first appeared in the mid-1800s, its strength and versatility as a construction material were quickly recognised, signalling a new approach to building that has dominated ever since. One of the first skyscrapers made with reinforced concrete was the 16-storey Ingalls Building in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1904. The rest, as they say, is history. Concrete and steel are a long way from being superseded by wood, but the emergence of CLT as a serious alternative in large structures demonstrates that, far from being a redundant or outdated material, the unique qualities of wood are still as relevant as ever.
galbraithgroup.com | energy Matters | Winter 2020/21 | Page 21
Slow roadworks ahead A9 dualling work could be bad news for businesses in the short term. Mike Reid reports. TRAnSPoRT Scotland is undertaking one of the country’s largest transport infrastructure projects by upgrading 80 miles of the A9 between Perth and Inverness to dual carriageway. The project has been designed to deliver economic growth through improved road safety, more reliable and faster journey times as well as better links to pedestrian, cycling and public transport facilities. The budget is £3 billion and the work is due to be completed in 2025, but delays could have a detrimental impact to many businesses and road users the project was designed to benefit. From the information on Transport Scotland’s website only one of the 11 sections has been completed (between Kincraig and Dalraddy) and only one other is currently under construction (between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam) so completing the project in 2025 is now looking optimistic. Each section has around a three-year construction timescale so in order to meet the deadline all remaining projects would need to start by the end of 2022. with nine projects to complete covering around 70 miles this could mean significant disruption for road users, particularly as the construction timescale means all nine projects would overlap. At the peak construction period road users would
be faced with travelling at 40mph through the road works for about two-thirds of the distance between Perth and Inverness. That would add more than 30 minutes to a car journey, increasing the current journey time by more than 30%. Increased journey times will increase costs for businesses and other road users as well as impacting the tourist trade. Many business already face tough trading times through Covid19 restrictions, so a major infrastructure project adding to their costs is the last thing they need, although the completed project should ultimately be beneficial to them. Extending the duration of the project beyond 2025 won’t be welcomed by many road users looking forward to the completed dual carriageway but that may be a better option than the delays and extra costs of working simultaneously on multiple sections. mike.reid@galbraithgroup.com 07909 978642
Page 22 | energy Matters | Winter 2020/21 | galbraithgroup.com
Transport Scotland’s website shows that only one section of the A9 project is complete, with one under construction.
Facing up to a future of water shortages Growing demand and shrinking reserves paint a ‘glass half empty’ picture for water. Rachel Russell reports.
MAny communities suffered lack of water supply or discolouration following variable weather earlier this year and changes in consumer demand during the lockdown. Are these problems going to become the new norm? Scotland is, on the whole, well catered for when it comes to rainfall,
“
In the 1960s the average person used 85 litres per day, whereas today the figure is 143 litres per day per person.
but the increasing risk of water scarcity cannot be overlooked. In July, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) published its first national water Scarcity Plan setting out how water resources will be managed prior to and during periods of prolonged dry weather. According to the plan, climate change predictions suggest that summers in Scotland are likely
to get drier, potentially leading to an increase in summer water scarcity. The Great British Rain Paradox paper makes the vital point that despite the UK’s reputation for rain, we may face future water shortages as we approach “the tipping point – where without action, demand may outstrip supply”. The paper notes that “the UK population is expected to rise from 67 million today to 72.4 million by 2043. It is not just our society that is changing, but our water habits are too. In the 1960s the average person used 85 litres per day, whereas today the figure is 143 litres per day per person”. A solution is to reduce demand and increase supply, which will require investment in new and existing assets in tandem with educating users on water saving solutions. Galbraith currently acts for landowners with water-related assets on their land as well as utility providers such as Scottish water and we anticipate that our involvement in this area will increase in years to come. rachel.russell@galbraithgroup.com 07884 657219
Threipmuir Reservoir in the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh during the long hot summer of 2018.
galbraithgroup.com | energy Matters | Winter 2020/21 | Page 23
Power storage incentives are needed to Covid-induced price turmoil shows it’s time to rethink electricity pricing, says John Pullen. AFTeR the UK entered lockdown in March, electricity demand dropped by nearly 15%. with schools, shops and businesses closed and commuting significantly reduced, both the morning peak and the overall daily demand reduced considerably. Lower demand results in lower wholesale electricity prices which were down to their lowest in almost 20 years. Such was the effect that during the May Bank Holiday weekend electricity prices fell to £–65.94/Mwh. Yes, that’s minus. In other words, that’s nearly 7p/kwh being paid to use electricity. At the time, UK demand was exceptionally low with more than 60% of it being generated by wind and solar. Consequently, a new record was also reached in the lowest ever CO2 emissions from electricity generation. This continued the trend from the previous month when prices went negative 66 times.
This was a specific Covid effect, but it highlights that there also need to be changes to our electricity generation fleet. The grid will continue to be more heavily influenced by numerous dispersed intermittent suppliers rather than centralised base-load generation. In contrast to these large negative swings, there are also huge positive swings. Earlier in the year, in March, electricity prices hit £2,242/Mwh (£2.42/kwh!) for a brief period as demand started to outstrip available generation. The result of all this is that electricity storage – long-term storage in the form of hydro and short-term storage in batteries – is becoming essential to avoid these huge swings in wholesale prices. It may be installed at grid level or on site. To encourage a much wider adoption of electricity storage, some financial incentive needs to be brought in unless we are all willing to live with hugely varying energy costs.
john.pullen@galbraithgroup.com
07557 163140
Shake-up for phone mast leases A Scottish Lands Tribunal case confirms radio mast lease renewals need to be justified by operators. Mike Reid reports A leGAl ruling on whether telecom companies can impose new lease terms on landowners looks set to shake up negotiations on the siting of phone masts in Scotland. In EE Ltd/Hutchison 3G Ltd v Duncan & Others 2020 the Scottish Lands Tribunal considered whether an operator had the right to a new lease, instead of continuing an existing agreement on ‘tacit relocation’ – a Scots law principle whereby leases continue on a year to year basis on the same conditions as applied previously. The operators had served a notice under paragraph 33 of the Electronic Communications Code requesting a new code lease where there was already a lease in place for an existing site. The tribunal concluded that the operators had not put forward a relevant case as to
why they should be granted a new code lease at renewal and, therefore, the tribunal dismissed the application. The tribunal noted the code gave it discretion to determine certain rights, such as to modify an agreement instead of replacing it. However, as the application was for a completely new lease, the tribunal concluded it must either approve or reject the application. The tribunal was required to consider all the circumstances including the business and technical needs of the operators, whether any existing agreement is unduly onerous or restrictive together with all other matters. The tribunal also confirmed there is nothing wrong with an operator who can’t justify the replacement of an old code agreement remaining bound by that agreement. The operators are now appealing this decision to the Court of Session so we will need to wait for the results of this appeal. if the Supreme Court in England confirms that an operator already in occupation can obtain code rights under paragraph 20, this approach is likely to
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be used for lease renewals, although that would reverse the Court of Appeal decision in CTIL v Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd, so isn’t guaranteed. This decision currently means that a code operator needs to provide appropriate justification for a new lease at renewal and it can’t just propose a new lease because that’s what it wants. Some landowners will have already signed up to new leases on renewal as a result of an approach from a code operator threatening tribunal action if they don’t agree to the terms proposed. Those owners will probably now be receiving substantially less rent and poorer lease terms than their previous lease as a result. Landowners approached about a lease renewal should be asking the operators to justify why the existing lease, which may have been operating successfully for 20 years, needs to be changed.
mike.reid@galbraithgroup.com 07909 978642
o stabilise prices
CURRENT RENEWABLE ENERGY SUBSIDIES The Galbraith energy team has researched the current subsidy regime to produce this reference guide for the most popular technologies. Subsidy levels are subject to change, so the figures given here are for guidance only.
Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Applications submitted for the period 1/10/2018 – 30/12/2018 Technology
Tariff p/kWh
Biomass boilers and stoves Current details of FIT rates, ROCs and CFDs can be found at www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmentalprogrammes The Feed-in Tariff and the Renewables Obligation scheme have both closed to new projects.
6.97
Air-source heat pumps
10.85
Ground-source heat pumps Solar thermal
21.16 21.36
Source: Ofgem.
Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Tariff name
Eligible technology
Eligible sizes
Small commercial biomass
Solid biomass including solid biomass contained in waste
Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 1 Tier 2
3.15 2.21 3.15 2.21
Tier 1 Tier 2
3.15 2.21
Medium commercial biomass Large commercial biomass Solid biomass CHP systems water/ground-source heat pumps
Solid biomass CHP Ground-source & water-source heat pumps
Air-source heat pumps All solar collectors Small biogas combustion Medium biogas combustion*
Air-source heat pumps Solar collectors Biogas combustion
Large biogas combustion*
All capacities Tier 1 Tier 2 All capacities <200 kwth <200 kwth ≥200 kwth ≤ 600 kwth
Tariff p/kWh
4.57 9.68 2.89 2.87 11.12 4.80 3.77
≥ 600 kwth
1.20
Source: Ofgem. Domestic and Non Domestic RHI Tariff Tables (Q3-2020/21) Tariff rates are displayed in pence per kWth and for installations with an accreditation date on or after 22/5/2018. * Commissioned on or after 4/12/2013.
galbraithgroup.com | energy Matters | Winter 2020/21 | Page 25
GALBRAITH’S ENERGY TEAM combines years of unrivalled skill in all property aspects of energy, utility and infrastructure. On the move and from our 13 offices across Scotland and the North of England, we bring wide experience of renewable energy technologies and associated services. We’re with you, no matter what the circumstances.
OUR EXPERTS Battery Storage Mike Reid, Richard Higgins Biomass Mike Reid Buying, Selling & Due Diligence Calum Innes, Mike Reid Carbon Capture & Investment Athole McKillop, Heather Coyle Compensation Claims Richard Higgins, nick Morgan, Mike Reid, Rachel Russell Compulsory Purchase Schemes (all infrastructure) Richard Higgins, Mike Reid, Colin Stewart Feasibility Studies (renewables) John Pullen GIS & Mapping Daniel Campanile Hydro Power Dougal Lindsay, John Pullen Infrastructure, Utilities & Wayleaves nick Morgan, Mike Reid, Rachel Russell Investment (infrastructure & renewables) Calum Innes, Crawford Mackay, Mike Reid Land Referencing nick Morgan, Rachel Russell Minerals Peter Combe Planning Calum Innes, Joanne Plant, Harry Stott Project Management (renewables) John Pullen On-shore Wind Harry Lukas, Mike Reid, Hugo Remnant Off-shore Wind Richard Higgins Solar Mike Reid Telecoms Mike Reid Rating Calum Innes Valuation Richard Higgins, Calum Innes, Mike Reid
Elgin Inverness Aberdeen Galbraith offices
Oban
Regional agents
Perth Cupar
Stirling Edinburgh
Argyll Ayr
Galashiels Kelso Blagdon
Stranraer
Castle Douglas Hexham Penrith
CONTACT US daniel.campanile@galbraithgroup.com 07500 794928
nick.morgan@galbraithgroup.com 07717 227404
peter.combe@galbraithgroup.com 07718 523034
joanne.plant@galbraithgroup.com 07920 495414
heather.coyle@galbraithgroup.com 07825 382084
john.pullen@galbraithgroup.com 07557 163140
richard.higgins@galbraithgroup.com 07717 581741
hugo.remnant@galbraithgroup.com 07718 523051
calum.innes@galbraithgroup.com 07909 978643
mike.reid@galbraithgroup.com 07909 978642
dougal.lindsay@galbraithgroup.com 07899 997915
rachel.russell@galbraithgroup.com 07884 657219
harry.lukas@galbraithgroup.com 07721 754822
colin.stewart@galbraithgroup.com 07711 534794
athole.mckillop@galbraithgroup.com 07718 523045
harry.stott@galbraithgroup.com 07909 978644
crawford.mackay@galbraithgroup.com 07909 978641