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Western Islands
Latest news from the Western Islands
Diabetes: new technologies study
UHI (University of the Highlands and Islands) has teamed up with NHS Western Isles to find out if new technologies could be used to help patients learn about life with type 2 diabetes. The move comes as US North Carolina researchers have created a ‘smart’ system, injected into the body that responds to changes in blood sugar by releasing insulin, effectively controlling blood-sugar levels. Successfully trialled on mice discussions are underway to move the technology to clinical trials for use in humans.
Energy: fines, contracts & surfing
As UK energy regulator Ofgem is to impose a £10.5m fine on utility giant SSE for prolonged and extensive mis-selling of gas and electricity over two years (the largest ever imposed on an energy supplier by the watchdog) hard at work Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission has awarded four contracts with a cumulative value of £600m for new electricity substations in Northern Scotland
Sauce for the goose ?
Plans for Scottish independence have suffered an interesting setback with the emergence of a bid by oil-rich Orkney and Shetland.to bring in their own home rule, with the islands are discussing how to achieve a new constitutional settlement that would deliver more powers to the Northern Isles, capitalising on the lucrative oil and gas reserves in their waters.
Land-farming salmon
The world’s biggest onshore salmon farm is to be built in Scotland as Dunkeld-based FishFrom submits a planning application for the £15m farm constructed inside a 3.5-acre warehouse at Tayinloan reputedly to produce 3,000 tonnes of salmon a year – about twice the average sea-farm.
And we in dreams behold
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has pledged to redouble his efforts to ensure the islands renewable energy potential is realised and establish the Western Isles as the jewel in Scotland's energy crown and a global centre for marine and land-based projects.
Lewis: consumer & CBM data
Community Energy Scotland, in partnership with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES) and Lews Castle College commissioned The Pure Energy Centre,renewable energy and energy storage company, to complete the installation of remote monitoring systems at 28 renewable energy generation sites in the Western Isles.
Isle of Lewis windfarm consented
Scotland's position as one of the world's leading wind hubs at least for 25 years, was further cemented today, as the government approved plans for the giant 129.6MW Stornoway Wind Farm on the Isle of Lewis.
£10 million for 2 years sea power
Four tidal and wave power developers are competing for the £10m Scottish Saltire award aiming to crack the toughest water technological challenges and generate the greatest volume of sea-powered electrical output in Scottish waters over a 2-year period.
NW beach finds: tags rewarded
The seas around the isles off the west coast of Scotland (Coll, Tiree, Hyskeir and Canna) have been identified as a hotspot for the second largest living fish, basking sharks that appear there every summer and are observed feeding, as well as engaging in social behaviour (which may be courtship) and breaching (leaping out of the water). The area seems to be important for key life cycle stages of basking sharks .
Broadband for half of Scotland
One week to comment on Highlands & Islands' final broadband consultation for half the country's geography. With superfast broadband rollout across the region looking set to begin in 2013, the H&I Enterprise launches a public consultation on current levels of service, asking broadband providers to confirm any plans they may have to upgrade to superfast, and seeking information from local people and businesses about their current service quality.
Stone USB to Canna cross
Gaberlunzie does love the idea of Roman curse stones, and feels in another Roman style life, a career as a curse writer would have been very rewarding. Naturally, however when he is presented by the bullaun stone, his first thought is it is a stone USB for communication of prayers and curses!
GModeller funded and launched
Lewis based GreenspaceLive, a software tools business, and the first company to spin out from University of the Highlands and Islands, has secured a seed funding package of £270,000.
Scotland needs ETV tugs
The Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) tug support for The Minch, the west coast and the Western Isles was withdrawn from service on cost grounds by the UK government. But ForArgyll records that a cargo boat grounded 10.45pm on 19th March on an island off North Uist highlights the very urgent need for ETV protection to be reinstated.
Islay and Fair Isle quakes
It's an uneasy sensation when the earth moves beneath your feet. 2012 leap year day was memorable for whisky famous Islay, when a 2.8-magnitude quake struck the north of the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, at 9.14am, followed by a 2.1-magnitude quake at 9.25am. It was the latest of six to hit the Hebridean island in February, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS).
Prof Lorne Crerar chairs H&IE
Professor Crerar is a founding partner and chairman of Scottish commercial law firm Harper Macleod LLP, offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness and held the part-time Chair of Banking Law at Glasgow University since 1997.He was formerly deputy chairman of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and one of three chairmen of the Housing Improvement Task Force which in 2002 completed its work.
Energy: Oyster wave array
As opposition to the encroaching wind turbines increases, some help may be around the corner for the Scottish coastline as power generated by an arrangement of "near-shore" wave devices should soon be feeding into the National Grid for the first time in Scotland.
Bitter opposition to key wind farms
As Donald Trump with his Balmenie course development violently contests the plan for an offshore 11-turbine test farm in view of the Menie resort, saying private assurances were made that it would not get permission, the stooshie is being spread by Tiree Array campaigners desperately protesting "death by 180 to 300 turbines" for Tiree, and drawing the proposed Methil site into the action with some (below) turbine height graphics
Can 2012 undersea Scotland beat 2011 rarities?
A rare species of fish described as “faceless and brainless” was among the unusual finds made by marine scientists off Britain’s coast during 2011, according to a recent Scottish government report. Amphioxuus is a prehistoric species, reaching two inches length and with no fins, recorded off Orkney.
Call for ETVs to remain
Reprieve of the coastguard stations at Stornoway in the Western Isles and Kirkwall in Orkney has not reprieved the tugs - the Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) based in those waters and due to be axed at the end of the month.
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