Latest news with #AndyBuchanan
Scotsman
21-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Don't listen to Donald Trump. North Sea wind can be trillion-pound engine room of UK economic renewal
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The prospects for Aberdeen, and with it the North Sea, look increasingly challenged but there is a path through the fog, creating economic prosperity, growth, and energy independence by fully backing offshore wind. So when President Donald Trump told the Prime Minister last week to 'ditch windmills' and drill for more oil, he missed the bigger picture that this could unlock for Scotland and for the rest of the UK. We have the chance to transform our energy system, cut household electricity bills and revive industrial communities. Having spent years working on the opportunities to bring game-changing investment into the UK's energy infrastructure, I do see a vision for the North Sea that is both bold and achievable. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The opportunity before us is to create a UK-based 'green energy super-major' – a homegrown champion to step into the shoes of BP and Shell as they turn their backs on renewables, and to consolidate the North Sea's fragmented patchwork of seabed concessions into a world-leading, integrated, clean energy powerhouse. Giant turbines in the Seagreen windfarm off the coast of Montrose (Picture: Andy Buchanan) | AFP via Getty Images Saudi Arabia of wind Let's be clear about the scale of what's at stake. To put the opportunity for wind in the North Sea into context, the full potential of the North Sea's wind output is equivalent to 80 million barrels of oil a day. In comparison, the Saudi Arabian business Aramco – the world's largest, publicly traded energy company by far – produces only 12.9 million barrels of oil a day. Aramco is valued by the market at $1.7 trillion so by extrapolation the North Sea wind resource could be worth over $10 trillion (about £7.5 trillion), ie over 60 per cent of the European Union's GDP! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Even if we exploited just a fraction of this potential, the economic and geopolitical benefits would be profound. With North Sea wind, we have the ability to say 'no thank you' to all imports of natural gas – including shale from the US. With this approach, the UK could also fund all of its key priorities – from the NHS to defence to decarbonisation – with clean energy. Taking the size of a standard wind farm from 1GW to 5GW or more, would create a pathway for the cost of fixed-bottom offshore wind to more than halve – exceeded, in due course, by the nascent floating variety. This would bring cheaper electricity onto the UK grid, to be passed through to consumers. A recent poll of 244 global floating wind experts found that 61 per cent believed that, by 2050, the costs of floating offshore wind will be lower than or equal to fixed installations. It's almost always windy somewhere in the North Sea, so connecting up windfarms in different areas can effectively solve the problem of intermittency (Picture: Ramon van Flymen) | AFP via Getty Images No need for gas or massive batteries Critics, including Mr Trump, love to point out that the "intermittency" of wind power – caused by the fact that the wind doesn't always blow – is a major constraint. But technology holds the answer and it fits the geography of the North Sea. Wind patterns are dictated by a variety of factors and are absolutely not uniform: just check the weather report on TV. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If we connect a wind farm located in wind basin 'A' to another located in wind basin 'B' – using seabed transmission cables – we can totally eradicate intermittency in offshore wind. All that is required is that the distance between the two wind basins is sufficient to ensure that their wind patterns are uncorrelated. With offshore wind on an interconnected basis, we no longer have any need for batteries or gas-fired generation to bridge the gap when the wind is not blowing. This is not a pipe dream – the vision is based on a very serious Norwegian study that examined hourly data in multiple North Sea locations over a 16-year period. Offshore wind farms are among the largest civil engineering projects ever built. Each tower is identical, opening the door to serial manufacturing and massive economies of scale. The next leap will come from floating wind farms, which can be assembled and maintained ashore – like ships – slashing costs and risks. SSE's big chance This is where Britain's industrial heritage comes back to life. Floating platforms can be built in our shipyards from Appledore to the Clyde, using British steel, and then transported to their final locations, creating thousands of skilled jobs – not only in energy but also across steel, shipbuilding and marine engineering. Every gigawatt of new offshore wind capacity adds £2-3 billion to the UK economy and supports many thousands of jobs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad SSE, from its headquarters in Perth, is already leading the charge with massive plans for expansion. But by focusing on the North Sea, the company and its partners can drive efficiencies of scale and position Britain as a global leader in clean energy manufacturing and export. Its Berwick Bank mega-project must quickly be approved, neighbouring concessions belonging to BP, Shell and other should be consolidated, and the entire Firth of Forth Cluster, with 19.4GW of capacity, needs to be interconnected. In so doing, SSE and its partners can generate enough electricity from this site alone to cover almost 25 per cent of the UK's demand by 2035. This is a moment for bold leadership. The government's new industrial strategy must be matched by policies that support large-scale investment, grid upgrades, and the creation of a true 'green energy super-major' headquartered here in the UK. With the right support, we can turn the North Sea into the engine room of Britain's economic and environmental renewal. The next chapter for the North Sea is not about oil rigs, but about reshaping the UK's energy future, unlocking enduring economic value, strengthening national security and creating skilled jobs across the country for generations to come.
IOL News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout tied for lead at The Open Championship
South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout watches his drive from the 17th tee on the opening day of the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland on July 17, 2025. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP Image: Andy Buchanan/AFP South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout fired an open four under 68 to share the lead in the opening round of the Open Championship at a rain-swept Royal Portrush on Thursday. Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, China's Li Haotong, Dane Jacob Skov Olesen, Bezuidenhout and American Harris English hold the clubhouse lead. World number one Scottie Scheffler made a fine start to sit three under par as home favourite Rory McIlroy was roared on during a rollercoaster one-under-par round. Scheffler, though, is well-placed to launch his challenge for a fourth major and a first Claret Jug despite a series of wayward tee shots. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Scheffler's Remarkable Round: Overcoming Challenges with Brilliant Approach Play The American hit just three fairways but still produced one of the best rounds of the day thanks to his brilliant approach play. 'When it's raining sideways, it's actually, believe it or not, not that easy to get the ball in the fairway. Thank you guys all for pointing that out,' he told reporters. Scheffler raised eyebrows with his pre-tournament comments that his is 'not a fulfilling life' due to his relentless quest for more success. He battled his way through the first 15 holes at one-under thanks to birdies at the third, seventh and 10th before finding his touch with another birdie at the 'Calamity Corner' 16th and nearly holing an approach for eagle at the 17th. McIlroy steadies the ship McIlroy is the star attraction for the close to 280,000 spectators set to attend the four days of play at the final major of the year. The Northern Irishman was determined to make amends for his disastrous start at Portrush six years ago when a quadruple bogey at the opening hole, on his way to a first-round 79, saw him miss the cut. McIlroy is nine shots better off this time after day one, but was ragged off the tee to see a potentially brilliant start blown off course in the windy conditions. After showing signs of nerves with an opening hole bogey, the Masters champion looked in the groove as birdies at the second, fifth, seventh and 10th took him to three-under. However, the world number two finally began to pay the price for a series of hooks to the left with three bogeys in four holes, including the par-five 12th, between the 11th and 14th. The 36-year-old, who set the course record at Portrush with a 61 20 years ago, steadied the ship by picking up a shot at 17 to finish with a 70. "I feel the support of an entire country out there, which is a wonderful position to be in, but at the same time, you don't want to let them down. So there's that little bit of added pressure," said McIlroy. "I felt like I dealt with it really well today. Certainly dealt with it better than I did six years ago. I was just happy to get off to a good start and get myself into the tournament." Slow going Tyrrell Hatton leads the charge to become the first English champion since Nick Faldo in 1992 at three under par, one ahead of compatriot Justin Rose who carded a bogey-free 69. Shane Lowry, champion when the British Open returned to Portrush for the first time in 68 years in 2019, and two-time major champion Jon Rahm finished at one-under. Defending champion Xander Schauffele is one further back at even par as he seeks to refind his top form after a frustrating 2025 so far. However, it was a day to forget for two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who shot seven over par to leave the American needing a good second round just to make the weekend. Two-time champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland was handed the honour of getting the tournament underway with the opening tee shot at 6:35 am local time. However, the spectators had a long day to catch the action with most rounds taking over six hours. US Open champion J.J. Spaun was handed a "bad time" warning for taking too long on the 17th hole. "Felt like we were on the golf course for about 12 hours," bemoaned Australia's Marc Leishman. AFP, additional reporting by IOL Sport
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- Scotsman
The postcard-perfect Scottish university campus that's been named among Europe's most beautiful
Scottish university campus among Europe's prettiest Sign up to our Scotsman Rural News - A weekly of the Hay's Way tour of Scotland emailed direct to you. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Europe's most beautiful university campuses have been named by a travel magazine – and one of Scotland's oldest universities has made the cut. Air France's digital publication, EnVols, selected eight stunning destinations to visit for 'an original experience this summer'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A student walks on campus at Glasgow University. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images Introducing the feature, the magazine said: 'Study in a castle, browse the collections of a baroque library, stroll through postcard-perfect gardens… That's what Europe's most beautiful university campuses have to offer. 'True cultural treasures, these prestigious places of learning have seen the likes of Oscar Wilde and Albert Einstein pass through their doors. This summer, discover these exceptional institutions.' The campus of the University of Glasgow was the only Scottish location to make the list. Justifying its inclusion, EnVols said: 'Nestled on the banks of the River Kelvin, the University of Glasgow is one of the city's most charming locations. One of the UK's leading educational establishments, it was founded in 1451 under James II of Scotland. 'Its iconic clock tower overlooks lush gardens with the river running through them. The main building houses the Hunterian Museum. It features collections of minerals, fossils and an exhibition devoted to Charles R. Mackintosh, a major figure in Scottish Art Nouveau.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The only other British campus to make the cut was Oxford University. EnVols said of the legendary institution:'Its history dates back to 1096, and its reputation has only ever grown since. With 39 colleges spread across the city, it is home to more than 25,000 students in fields as varied as philosophy, fine arts and political science. 'Inside the campus, you'll find the famous Radcliffe Camera, the majestic circular library, the Sheldonian Theatre designed by Christopher Wren and of course vast English gardens. 'The campus is also home to a number of museums, including the Ashmolean, the second oldest university museum in the world. And let's not forget fans of the Harry Potter saga, who will be in heaven when they visit the campus, as several scenes were filmed in Oxford buildings.' Make sure you keep up to date with news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Trinity College in Dublin also features, with EnVols saying its 'movie atmosphere' makes it a 'must-see destination'.
The Herald Scotland
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Why are there concerns for Scotland over Labour's Invest 2035
The warning arrives as uncertainty grows around the future of Ferguson Marine, the last remaining commercial shipyard on the River Clyde. The nationalised firm has struggled with delays and cost overruns surrounding the MV Glen Rosa—a ferry years behind schedule and massively over budget. Until recently, it had just that single contract left, placing its long-term survival in jeopardy. What is Invest 2035? The strategy was formally launched on 23 June 2025, following a public consultation that began in October 2024 with the release of a Green Paper. It was introduced to reverse years of low productivity and weak investment across the UK, provide long-term stability and end the 'policy merry-go-round' that businesses have faced and create a credible 10-year plan to boost growth, tackle regional inequality, and support high-potential sectors. READ MORE by Martin Williams UK maritime trade group urges 'buy British' to prevent erosion of Scots industry Row over ScotGov failure to track jobs supported by public millions 'Shut it down' demands as Scotland's last nuclear plant breaches a safety limit Union seeks more public money support for bus firm looking to move to England It is also seen as a response to the global challenges like the net zero transition, AI and automation, and changing trade dynamics. What are its main targets? It aims to drive sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across the UK, increase business investment and attract international capital. It also hopes to support high-quality, well-paid jobs in key sectors. It has a focus is on eight growth-driving sectors: advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences and professional and business services. There is a hope of doubling business investment in advanced manufacturing and clean energy by 2035. There is a plan to train one million young people in tech skills by 2030 and boost AI research twentyfold while expanding clean energy investment and growing business investment in creative industries to £31bn It also plans to support regional growth through city-region clusters and strategic hubs and establish a statutory Industrial Strategy Council for oversight and long-term stability as well as accelerating international investment. What are the further concerns of the SMI? The SMI has warned UK ministers that shipbuilding and marine engineering on the Clyde and at Rosyth remain 'vulnerable to international competition,' dominated by state-backed foreign shipyards with easier access to funding and demand. They say this threat will persist unless supported by 'strategic sovereign procurement' — a policy that prioritises buying from domestic firms to boost local jobs and industry. (Image: Andy Buchanan/PA) It said that North Sea oil and gas sector is in 'structural decline' due to decarbonisation, ageing fields, and falling fossil fuel investment, with major impacts expected in Aberdeen and nearby areas. And they say a managed shift to renewables is vital to protect jobs and industrial capacity. And it elt that Aberdeen must win UK wind farm contracts to preserve sovereign energy capability. And the key risk, they warn, is not the transition itself, but failing to equip Scottish communities with the skills, investment, and support needed to adapt. What does the UK Government say about the plan? When the business secretary Jonathan Reynolds introduced the new industrial strategy Green Paper, he described it as 'the UK's modern industrial strategy' aimed at channelling long‑term investment into 'growth-driving sectors' to 'spur growth, spread wealth and drive up employment across all four nations of the UK' He emphasised the importance of the workforce, stating the approach will 'invest in British people to power industrial strategy,' with a £275 million package supporting skills training in areas like engineering, programming and manufacturing to plug growing skills shortages. Keir Starmer (Image: Jonathan Brady) Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the strategy represented a 'targeted, long‑term plan,' marking a break from short‑term policymaking and "sticking plasters of the past". He said: "In an era of global economic instability, it delivers the long term certainty and direction British businesses need to invest, innovate and create good jobs that put more money in people's pockets as part of the Plan for Change "This is how we power Britain's future - by backing the sectors where we lead, removing the barriers that hold us back, and setting out a clear path to build a stronger economy that works for working people. Our message is clear - Britain is back and open for business."
9 News
04-07-2025
- Business
- 9 News
Runners, local business pumped ahead of Gold Coast Marathon
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Hundreds of participants gathered today to collect their race essentials for tomorrow's Gold Coast Marathon. The event has seen significant engagement from both local and visiting runners, as well as businesses capitalising on the influx of people. Andy Buchanan, the 2024 winner, said he welcomed the competition. Hundreds of participants gathered today to collect their race essentials for tomorrow's Gold Coast Marathon. (9News) "A lot of people play different mind games and I quite enjoy that and I know there's quite a bit of competition," Buchanan said. Isaac Heyne, who placed second said this year he was "aiming to get the win". "I came second to Andy last year, and yeah hopefully we can do one better this year," he said. Local businesses are also getting in the spirit. Ed Hatcher from Alfred's Apartment said the bar was doing an "electrolyte granita" and "custom kits". "This time we've kind of gone bigger and got a bit more interesting." Gemelli Italian restaurant has partnered with running group Pace Athletic to provide pre-race meals. "Everyone comes to Gemelli for the carb load, pizza, and pasta so we thought why not get involved, bring the community together," Gemelli's Alec Carney said. Road closures are in effect from Paradise Point to Miami, from 3.30am. No parking is available along the course. This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress . 9ExPress queensland national sport Gold Coast CONTACT US Property News: The suburbs where workers on $300,000 can't afford a house.
