Scotland’s offshore wind sector would increase eightfold under “bold plans” put forward by a new group – building enough capacity to power every household in Scotland twice over.
The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council – which launched yesterday – also aims to lead and support the industry, boost the local content of projects and increase jobs in line with the sector deal signed between industry and the UK Government in March.
The Council is co-chaired by Scottish Government Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse and Brian McFarlane, head of projects and offshore development at SSE Renewables.
Its membership also includes Scottish Renewables, Scottish Enterprise, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Crown Estate Scotland, Red Rock Power and the Energy Skills Partnership.
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The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council’s vision is for an offshore wind sector which plays to Scotland’s strengths, delivering jobs, investment and export opportunities in line with the UK Sector Deal as a key part of the path to net-zero.
Scotland currently has around 1GW of operational offshore wind, which would increase to 8GW – enough to power the equivalent of 5.2 million households, more than double the number in Scotland – by 2030 under the Council’s goal.
Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, said: “Offshore wind presents an enormous opportunity for Scotland, both in terms of its ability to help us decarbonise our energy system and in terms of its potential to generate economic value for Scotland.
“The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council has been created to ensure that all those involved are pulling together to deliver on bold plans to create a competitive, commercially-attractive offshore wind sector in Scotland which can deliver both domestically and in the global offshore wind market, with opportunities to develop a globally-competitive supply chain for fixed foundation and floating wind technologies.
“The broad nature of the group – including representatives from both the public and private sectors – and the skills and experience on which it can draw, give Scotland the very best chance of success in offshore wind.”
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