tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735897241167277360.post7600431726764122816..comments2012-12-14T05:32:45.653+00:00Comments on forfar-loon's brigadoon: Energy lethargyforfar-loonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03825964478078065335noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735897241167277360.post-8838760494572667282009-08-22T19:07:12.225+01:002009-08-22T19:07:12.225+01:00You're absolutely right tris. Here's a sma...You're absolutely right tris. Here's a small vision: in the next few decades we can reasonably expect two things to be big drivers of the world economy, namely electronics (computing included) and bio-tech. The nice thing is we're reasonably well placed to capitalise on these having dipped our toes in both to varying degrees (Silicon glen, Dundee's games industry and bio-tech sector, Roslin Institute, etc.).<br /><br />So, the vision bit: we should prioritise these now (not to the exclusion of others things mind!). Let's invest more in education and training for these industries and encourage R&D and entrepreneurialism. I know that efforts are already being made in these areas, but we can and should do more.<br /><br />Here's a thought: 25 years ago how much money did Finland make from mobile phones? Not a lot I'm willing to bet. But they saw which way things were moving and were smart enough and light enough on their feet to capitalise on it through Nokia. Whatever the next big thing turns out to be, let's hope Scotland has had the foresight and is agile enough to capitalise on it.forfar-loonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03825964478078065335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735897241167277360.post-80921707190467750882009-08-22T12:32:07.382+01:002009-08-22T12:32:07.382+01:00We've suffered from lack of foresight for a lo...We've suffered from lack of foresight for a long time.<br /><br />Leaders with vision would be a good start to putting the country back on its feet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735897241167277360.post-58838826222339141022009-08-17T15:04:40.917+01:002009-08-17T15:04:40.917+01:00Indeed they would HFF. Although I see that the lat...Indeed they would HFF. Although I see that the latest big scheme has run into a problem: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8205094.stm" rel="nofollow">Rock fall halts new hydro scheme</a>. Hopefully it will be back on track soon.<br /><br />Incidentally, did you see Griff Rhys Jones <i>Rivers</i> show a few weeks back when he was in Perthshire? Some neat micro-hydro schemes there using relatively small hillside burns to generate quite useful amounts of electricity (enough to power 500 homes I think they said) - and no need to flood large upland areas in the process. Such small-scale schemes are not the whole answer to our energy needs, but they at least provide some power in remote areas and help to decentralise and diversify power generation, surely a good thing with regard to security of supply.forfar-loonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03825964478078065335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735897241167277360.post-28269280553588272752009-08-12T22:55:32.246+01:002009-08-12T22:55:32.246+01:00More hydro electric plants would be a good idea.More hydro electric plants would be a good idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com