COMPANIES in the offshore wind sector are to benefit from £1.5m of funding aimed at increasing innovation, reducing costs and encouraging further investment.
The Scottish Government has made the award to the Carbon Trust to support its Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) research and design programme.
Set up in 2008, the OWA has driven forward new technologies in the sector, seen by the renewables industry as a key area for growth.
Previous funding rounds have supported research into the floating wind technology market and into the use of concrete foundations for offshore windfarms in deeper waters.
“The OWA is a collaborative programme run by the Carbon Trust, which aims to reduce the cost of offshore wind through technological innovation,” said Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse, right.
“Previous Scottish Government support for the OWA has helped develop new ideas in key areas of importance to companies operating in Scottish waters and I have no doubt this new funding will help firms to continue this important work,” he said.
“Only last week, around 350 jobs were announced as a direct result of the construction of the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm, highlighting the massive opportunity offshore wind presents to Scotland.
“Innovation in renewables also continues to contribute to the excellent progress we are making on reducing greenhouse gas emissions after the news that Scotland has exceeded our 2020 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent six years early.”
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks, welcomed the funding.
“Scotland’s seas boast a quarter of Europe’s offshore wind resource with the potential to create thousands of jobs, help us to avoid carbon emissions, and to power the nation,” he pointed out.
“Independent research has shown that Scotland could have a secure electricity system powered almost entirely by renewables by 2030. To ensure that we reap the benefits of becoming the EU’s first fully renewable electricity nation, in addition to continued support for offshore wind, the Scottish Government’s forthcoming energy strategy should major on flexibility, demand reduction, and storage.”
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