Enterprise and local authority leaders from the Highlands and Islands met Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister of State for Energy, in Glasgow today (Tuesday 9 October) to press the message that  connection charges to the national electricity grid discriminate unfairly against remote mainland and island locations.

Senior representatives of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Shetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar told the minister of their concerns that Scotland's potential to become a green energy powerhouse could be impeded by an unfair charging policy.

The meeting was held following last month's publication of a report, commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which revealed that parts of Scotland almost certainly face the highest grid connection charges in Europe.

The study, 'European practices with grid connection, reinforcement, constraint and charging of renewable energy projects', found that the cost of connecting in north mainland areas of Scotland was many times greater than other EU countries - and 30 times higher than Denmark.

Island costs are even higher, according to the report, which states these are 'almost certainly higher than in any other European country'.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has already responded, calling on electricity regulator Ofgem to review connection charges.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise head of renewables, Elaine Hanton, who attended the meeting with Mr Wicks, said it had provided a further opportunity to press home the message that the present charging policy is putting at risk a cutting-edge industry which could bring huge benefits to Scotland.

"The great irony of the present charging policy is that the areas of Scotland which have the most to offer, in terms of their wind, wave and tidal resource, are the very ones which have to pay the most to get their energy on to the grid," said Elaine.

"Scotland and the UK have an international competitive advantage through this tremendous natural energy resource, and it must be in the national interest to make  it easier, not harder, for our remote mainland and island areas to get their power onto the grid.

Angus Campbell, vice convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: "We had a positive and encouraging meeting with Mr Wicks, who acknowledged that achieving connections to the islands in a timely and cost-effective way would be an indispensable part of unlocking the huge potential offered by their renewable energy resources."

Stephen Hagan, convener Orkney Islands Council, said: "We are urging the UK Government to show leadership in meeting its targets for renewable energy generation. The three island groups, with their recognised significant resources, remain unclear on how they can contribute to this under current policies and practice."

Mr Wicks said that he shared his frustration and underlined government commitment to developing renewable resources in the Scottish Islands.

The enterprise and local authority leaders who met Mr Wicks today were, Willie Roe, chairman of HIE, Aaron Priest, project manager for the Viking Energy Project in Shetland, Shona Croy, head of Economic development, Stephen Hagan, Orkney Islands Council convener and Angus Campbell, Comhairle nan Eilean vice convener.

The HIE report on grid connection charges is available online on the HIE website at www.hie.co.uk/eu-grid-practices