Latest news with #IanAustin
Scotsman
06-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
All Energy - it was all about grid connection - with huge implications for farmers
The All Energy Conference brought together renewable developers, suppliers, and organisations whose focus is on the delivery of renewable energy. Emphasis was very much on the grid, the challenges around delivering renewable energy and the vast requirement to deliver infrastructure in the coming 5 years to meet the 2030 Clean Energy Plan. There were discussions on grid reform, workforce, material availability and budgets, but concerning that there was no mention of land rights required from farmers and landowners who will be affected. 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... Ian Austin, Davidson & Robertson Director, and Head of Utilities Energy & Infrastructure said 'Ultimately, transmission development is behind where it needs to be, but there is huge political support driving delivery to meet targets and that was very evident at the conference. 'It was stated that the industry now needs twice the level of transmission infrastructure (pylons) that has been created in the past ten years – but it needs to be achieved in just the next 5 years. That is a big target requiring a huge commitment, but there is now political might to see this happen. The government's National Energy System Operator (NESO) has been in place since November, and with a full reform of the grid connection process, is hopeful of getting more deliverable projects approved and progressing at a faster pace. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The NESO Grid Reform Review halted grid applications so they could review and redefine the process to unclog the 700GW backlog of projects and improve procedures. The revised application process is scheduled to reopen in the autumn having gate-checked existing applications to ensure: land right agreements are in place with landowners; the proposed development is fully justified and is required for the delivery of the 2030 Clean Energy Plan; there is progress with planning; and therefore, can demonstrate its requirement for a grid connection. All new applications will be subject to the same checks. Ian Austin D&R Director, Head of Utilities, Energy & Infrastructure 'For many landowners, this does mean there will still be a rush to have contracts concluded with their developer partners. Some developers believe these reforms will give viable projects already in the system, an earlier revised grid connection date that will, in many cases, be determined by delivery of Grid enhancement works. 'The review has also resulted in landowners seeing large-scale Lithium Iron Battery projects being dropped by developers as in many cases, they cannot establish the need given battery storage was so oversupplied to meet the 2030 Clean Energy Plan. 'D&R predicts that summer will see more urgency coming from developers moving at pace to capitalise on the planned reopening of grid applications. Landowners will be faced with a June deadline for agreeing land rights allowing applications to proceed where developers try to hold on to existing grid offers. We are already seeing developers rushing to re-engage on contracts for projects currently on hold or looking to swap projects or introduce new ones. With this in mind and the requirement for even more transmission and distribution infrastructure, our key message to landowners is crucial: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'For farmers and landowners faced with infrastructure project crossing their land, it is more important than ever, to take professional advice from Agents who have significant years of experience in this sector. Above all, do not sign anything until you are fully aware of your rights and options, and be aware that in most cases, utility companies and developers will reimburse reasonable professional costs as part of your compensation or as part of a commercial deal.' SSEN has already committed a £22 billion transmission line investment in Scotland alone by 2030. For the first time, the conference debate extended beyond transmission lines and pylons, taking a wider view considering the distribution of energy to the wider networks (pole lines). During one seminar, Tom Hughes, Assistant Director of Energy, National Infrastructure & Service Transformation Authority estimated that £37 - £50 billion spend will be required for new distribution works – that is on top of existing pole repair and renewal budgets. For landowners, distribution infrastructure has a huge impact as it affects a significantly greater number of landowners. Commenting on other key highlights that could affect landowners, Ian Austin said 'As technology advances, hydropower may become more of an option for landowners. High-density 'heavy water' is 2.5 times denser than water, meaning that where a hydro project typically needed 500 metres of fall, in the future only 200 metres may be sufficient. It could open up the option for more landowners to consider. Agreements will need to consider issues arising from leaks and any resulting liability for damage to waterways. 'There was strong debate between the District Network Operators (DNOs) and NESO on the possibility of introducing zonal pricing where need/availability is taken into account. The DNOs (SSEN and SSE) were firmly against this, citing uncertainty and investment risk and threatening project viability. NESO, however, argue the opposite saying it created opportunities-focused development where is required and can facilitated. For farmers, the only opportunity from this would be battery storage, with some battery developers in D&R's experience making the same argument. The future will likely see lithium batteries superseded by technological advances which include looking at liquid flow batteries and compressed air flywheels. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The UK operates 10GW onshore wind with 1GW in construction and a strong pipeline of future projects strengthened by lifting the wind ban in England which will be good news for farmers south of the border looking at wind farm opportunities. A total of 27-29 GW of onshore wind is needed to meet UK 2030 goals, so developers are hugely keen to acquire sites and agree terms to make a grid application. 'Solar too will continue to see an increased demand currently generating circa 20GW electricity with a 2030 target of 60GW. 'Demand for materials outstrips supply and there is a severe shortage of skilled people employed and coming into the industry due to a lack of training, knowledge, and awareness of the sector. It was commented that this is not helped by the fact that there are no courses tailored to match industry needs. '95% of our current energy use is low carbon, and in 2025, the aim is to achieve 100% low carbon energy for at least a few hours – an achievement that is on target and demonstrates the political will to make things happen.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The next NESO plan will provide energy guidelines for 2030 – 35 and is set to be even more ambitious because it must take into account the population increase and rising energy requirements. This is due to be published in Q4 2026. In summary, Ian Austin said, 'Overall, D&R believes there appears to be a lack of appreciation from some of the key decision makers within SPEN, SSEN, NESO and developers, in terms of consents by landowners and how the transition to clean powers will affect them. The reality is that, right across the UK, more landowners than ever before will be faced with approved infrastructure projects on their land.'
The National
28-05-2025
- Business
- The National
British Palestinians call out David Lammy over UK-Israel trade visit
On Monday, Lord Ian Austin – the UK Government's trade envoy to Israel – was pictured in Haifa in northern Israel, where he said the Government would continue to encourage "British businesses to export to Israel and Israeli businesses to invest in the UK". It comes despite the UK Government suspending negotiations with the Israeli government on a new free trade deal last week, as Lammy described Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as "extremists". READ MORE: BBC admits error after presenting Reform UK spokesperson as member of public The National understands that Austin is set to be in Israel until Friday to "maintain" the UK Government's relationship with Israeli businesses. The visit was condemned by Independent MP and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, former first minister Humza Yousaf, and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians. Meanwhile, the British Palestinian Committee, an independent organisation of British Palestinians advocating for Palestinian rights, has now written to the Foreign Secretary arguing that the visit "appears to directly contradict" the UK Government's previous condemnation of Israel. Dr Sara Husseini, director of the British Palestinian Committee, said that the "limited steps" against Israel by the UK Government "are already being undermined". Penning the letter to Lammy on Tuesday, Husseini said the UK Government was "isolat[ing] itself on the international stage" in its continued support of Israel. The full letter to the Foreign Secretary said: "One week ago, you announced the suspension of free trade agreement negotiations with Israel in light of its ongoing military assault on Gaza. "Yesterday morning, the UK Trade Envoy to Israel, Lord Ian Austin, publicly stated on X that he was in Israel to 'promote trade with the UK' meeting with Israeli businesses and officials. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv further amplified this message by publishing a photo of Lord Austin at the Haifa Port. "This visit appears to directly contradict your Government's recent announcement and suggests that business continues as usual, despite almost 600 days of Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza. Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Image: PA) "The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has now reached at least 54,000 with entire families incinerated in their homes as Israel's daily bombardments continue. "Women, men and children remain trapped under rubble or in the streets, unreachable by emergency crews. During this past weekend, harrowing footage has circulated of children burned alive during an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced people, and a surgeon at work receiving the charred bodies of her nine children. "Israel continues to pursue its openly stated policy of forced displacement, now centred in Rafah, while systematically blocking supplies to force the starvation of the entire population of Gaza. The extent of this mass ethnic cleansing is on a scale not experienced by the Palestinian people since their original expulsion from their homes during the Nakba of 1947-48. "Last week's measures announced by your government are wholly inadequate in the face of this horrific reality. That even the limited measures announced last week are already being undermined is deeply troubling and entirely unacceptable." READ MORE: By-election hustings chaos as Tory candidate walks out over Labour no-show Husseini went on: "Rather than fulfilling its legal and moral duties to ensure the protection of an occupied people – Britain continues to provide diplomatic, economic, and military support to the occupying power. "As other states, international bodies, and civil society institutions take steps to halt Israeli atrocities, the UK Government continues to participate in these crimes and further isolate itself on the international stage." The British Palestinian Committee called on Lammy to: Immediately clarify the nature and mandate of Austin's visit to Israel and "take appropriate steps to ensure that the government is not reneging on its own policy". Drop the 2030 roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations, and "impose comprehensive economic and diplomatic sanctions in order to apply pressure on Israel to abide by its international obligations". Cease "all forms of military cooperation with Israel and impose a full two-way arms embargo, in line with the UK's obligations under international law, including the duty to prevent, punish, and ensure non-complicity in genocide". The UK Government has previously insisted that the visit was unrelated to the recently suspended new free trade deal and that Austin was not involved in trade negotiations. The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.
Middle East Eye
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
'Shameless hypocrisy': MP Ayoub Khan slams UK for sending envoy to Israel to 'promote trade'
The UK has sent its Israel trade envoy, Lord Ian Austin, to Israel to "promote trade" - less than a week after suspending free trade agreement talks with Israel over its attacks on Gaza. On Monday Austin was in Haifa, where he visited the customs scanning centre, Haifa Bayport and the Haifa-Nazareth Light Rail project. "Greetings from Israel!" the envoy said in a post on X on Monday. "I'm here to meet businesses & officials to promote trade with the UK." Austin added: "Trade with Israel provides many thousands of good jobs in the UK and brings people together in the great multi-cultural democracy that is Israel." Just last Tuesday, Britain announced it was summoning the Israeli ambassador in London and suspending its free trade agreement talks with Israel in response to its expanded military operations in Gaza. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Israel lashed out in response, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing the UK of emboldening Hamas. Independent MP Ayoub Khan told Middle East Eye that he was "appalled by our government's shameless hypocrisy". "Just days after suspending trade agreement talks with Israel over its brutal assault on Gaza," he said, "the government has now sent Lord Ian Austin to promote business with the very regime that is responsible for mass murder and devastation." Khan added: "Lord Austin's praise of Israel as a 'great multi-cultural democracy' is an insult to the dead, and to all those still trapped under rubble or living in terror under siege. "I am disgusted by our government's attempt to reward those reponsible for the mass murder of innocent Palestinians with the potential of further trade deals." Austin, who sits as a life peer in the House of Lords, was a Labour MP until he resigned in 2019 under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, citing the party's alleged failure to tackle antisemitism. He was appointed trade envoy to Israel under the previous Conservative government. Islamophobia accusations Austin faced allegations of Islamophobia in 2021 after tweeting a photo of a fake Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavour called 'Hamas Terror Misu' - in response to the company deciding to stop selling its ice cream in illegal Israeli settlements. In 2012, Austin had to publicly apologise after he falsely claimed that Friends of Al-Aqsa, a pro-Palestine campaign group, were Holocaust deniers. Netanyahu accuses UK, France, and Canada of 'emboldening' Hamas after Gaza criticism Read More » And last year, he was suspended as chair of Midland Heart housing association after posting on social media platform X: 'Everyone, better safe than sorry: before you go to bed, nip down and check you haven't inadvertently got a death cult of Islamist murderers and rapists running their operations downstairs. It's easily done.' He has since deleted the post. Austin has denied claims of racism and Islamophobia. Last week, after the UK suspended free trade agreement talks with Israel, Austin wrote a column for PoliticsHome arguing that "thousands of jobs in the UK depend on trade with Israel". He added: "One in eight of the drugs dispensed by the NHS comes from Israeli companies. Every business and family in the country uses Israeli technology in their homes, computers, cars and phones every day. "The RAF would not be able to get its planes off the ground, and British soldiers would have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan without Israeli defence equipment." Great to welcome @LordIanAustin to Haifa! In a day full of innovation by the Carmel, the UK Trade Envoy to Israel visited the cutting-edge Customs Scanning Centre, Haifa Bayport, the Haifa–Nazareth Light Rail project, and the Technion - witnessing 🇬🇧–🇮🇱 cooperation at every stop — UK in Israel 🇬🇧 (@ukinisrael) May 26, 2025 Austin said Britain's "relationship with Israel is worth billions and brings massive benefits to Britain. It is in our national interest, and the decision this week by the government to pause negotiations on a new Free Trade Agreement does not change that. "I'll be visiting Israel next week to show our support and solidarity and to drum up business for Britain. "Even without the benefits a new trade agreement would bring to Britain, our message is that we're open for business, so we'll still be encouraging British businesses to export to Israel and Israeli businesses to invest in the UK to create jobs here."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK trade representative visits Israel after Britain suspends talks
A British trade envoy has visited Israel to "promote trade" between the two countries - a week after the UK suspended talks. Lord Ian Austin, who is the UK government's trade envoy to Israel, was welcomed to Haifa on Monday, just days after Foreign Secretary David Lammy paused negotiations. The British Embassy in Israel said Lord Austin had visited a number of projects - such as the Customs Scanning Centre, Haifa Bayport, and the Haifa-Nazareth Light Rail project - to "witness co-operation at every stop".The independent peer said he was visiting Israel to "meet businesses and officials to promote trade with the UK". "Trade with Israel provides many thousands of good jobs in the UK and brings people together in the great multi-cultural democracy that is Israel," he said. Last Tuesday, the government confirmed it was suspending its trade negotiations with Israel in the wake of an accelerated military offensive in Gaza and the country's decision to limit the amount of aid allowed into the territory. Mr Lammy told the Commons that Israel's actions were "egregious" and amounted to a "dark new phase in this conflict". But despite the suspension of any new trade talks with Israel, Number 10 has insisted that the UK still has a trading relationship with the country. A spokesperson for the prime minister said: "We have always had a trading relationship, but are pausing any new ones." The UK has sanctioned a number of individuals and groups in the West Bank which it said have been linked with acts of violence against Palestinians - including Daniella Weiss, a leading settler activist who was the subject of Louis Theroux's recent documentary The Settlers. Israel criticised the UK government action as "regrettable" and said the free trade agreement talks, which ministers have now backed out of, were "not being advanced at all by the UK government". Lord Austin has previously stressed the importance of the UK's trading relationship with Israel, claiming it is "worth billions and brings massive benefits to Britain". Writing for e, he said: "It is in our national interest, and the decision this week by the government to pause negotiations on a new Free Trade Agreement does not change that. "The situation in Gaza is terrible, as it is in all wars, and the quickest way to get the aid in and save lives is for Hamas to stop fighting and release the hostages. That would end the conflict immediately."
Middle East Eye
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK envoy arrives in Israel to 'promote trade' a week after Starmer suspends talks
The UK has sent its Israel trade envoy, Lord Ian Austin, to Israel to "promote trade" - less than a week after suspending free trade agreement talks with Israel over its attacks on Gaza. On Monday Austin was in Haifa, where he visited the customs scanning centre, Haifa Bayport and the Haifa-Nazareth Light Rail project. "Greetings from Israel!" the envoy said in a post on X on Monday. "I'm here to meet businesses & officials to promote trade with the UK." Austin added: "Trade with Israel provides many thousands of good jobs in the UK and brings people together in the great multi-cultural democracy that is Israel." Just last Tuesday, Britain announced it was summoning the Israeli ambassador in London and suspending its free trade agreement talks with Israel in response to its expanded military operations in Gaza. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Israel lashed out in response, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing the UK of emboldening Hamas. Austin, who sits as a life peer in the House of Lords, was a Labour MP until he resigned in 2019 under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, citing the party's alleged failure to tackle antisemitism. He was appointed trade envoy to Israel under the previous Conservative government. Islamophobia accusations Austin faced allegations of Islamophobia in 2021 after tweeting a photo of a fake Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavour called 'Hamas Terror Misu' - in response to the company deciding to stop selling its ice cream in illegal Israeli settlements. In 2012, Austin had to publicly apologise after he falsely claimed that Friends of Al-Aqsa, a pro-Palestine campaign group, were Holocaust deniers. Netanyahu accuses UK, France, and Canada of 'emboldening' Hamas after Gaza criticism Read More » And last year, he was suspended as chair of Midland Heart housing association after posting on social media platform X: 'Everyone, better safe than sorry: before you go to bed, nip down and check you haven't inadvertently got a death cult of Islamist murderers and rapists running their operations downstairs. It's easily done.' He has since deleted the post. Austin has denied claims of racism and Islamophobia. Last week, after the UK suspended free trade agreement talks with Israel, Austin wrote a column for PoliticsHome arguing that "thousands of jobs in the UK depend on trade with Israel". He added: "One in eight of the drugs dispensed by the NHS comes from Israeli companies. Every business and family in the country uses Israeli technology in their homes, computers, cars and phones every day. "The RAF would not be able to get its planes off the ground, and British soldiers would have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan without Israeli defence equipment." Great to welcome @LordIanAustin to Haifa! In a day full of innovation by the Carmel, the UK Trade Envoy to Israel visited the cutting-edge Customs Scanning Centre, Haifa Bayport, the Haifa–Nazareth Light Rail project, and the Technion - witnessing 🇬🇧–🇮🇱 cooperation at every stop — UK in Israel 🇬🇧 (@ukinisrael) May 26, 2025 Austin said Britain's "relationship with Israel is worth billions and brings massive benefits to Britain. It is in our national interest, and the decision this week by the government to pause negotiations on a new Free Trade Agreement does not change that. "I'll be visiting Israel next week to show our support and solidarity and to drum up business for Britain. "Even without the benefits a new trade agreement would bring to Britain, our message is that we're open for business, so we'll still be encouraging British businesses to export to Israel and Israeli businesses to invest in the UK to create jobs here."
