Marine Scotland has launched a consultation seeking answers from the industry on how best to decarbonise the oil and gas sector using offshore wind power.
The Sectoral Marine Plan round for Offshore Wind for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas Decarbonisation (INTOG) Planning Specification and Context Report aims to identify areas for future offshore development.
In particular the report, highlights the “pivotal” role floating wind projects will play in the replacement of fossil fuel industries in the deep waters around Scotland.
It also sets out the parameters for the planning process and specifications that will apply to bidder in future seabed leasing rounds.
The document reads: “This report and the analysis presented below does not seek to identify specific areas for development but to take the first step in the sectoral planning process by identifying broad areas within which it would be logistically realistic to host development of new INTOG projects.”
The consultation closes on 20 October 2021.
Scottish ministers will form an Initial Plan Framework later this year based on the information collected and a final plan will be published by Marine Scotland in the summer of 2023.
The consultation document can be found at www.marine.gov.scot.