The Scottish Government has set a new ambition to increase offshore wind capacity to 11GW of energy installed by 2030, up from 8GW, and has adopted a plan that identifies commercial-scale offshore wind sites.
The aim of substantially increasing the offshore wind capacity in Scottish waters supports the delivery of Scotland’s 2017 Energy Strategy and the decarbonisation of heat and transport.
The strategy has been agreed following an extensive consultation with industry, stakeholders, coastal communities and environmental organisations.
As well as outlining the economic opportunities offshore wind presents, the Scottish Government has also adopted a plan identifying suitable areas for commercial-scale offshore wind projects.
This will inform the first seabed leasing process led by the newly devolved Crown Estate Scotland.
Scotland’s Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse (pictured) said: “This is a pivotal moment for the development of our offshore wind sector.
“Our seas are host to some of the best offshore wind resources in the world and our ambition to capitalise on our offshore wind generation capacity is part of the bold action we are taking to support economic recovery and become a net-zero society.
“The Scottish Government is determined to drive a green economic recovery with investment in renewable energy at the heart of it.
“We want to harness Scotland’s enviable wind resource for our energy system and unlock significant investment in the supply chain to create more green jobs across the sector.
“We expect that the inclusion of Supply Chain Development Statements as part of ScotWind Leasing Rounds, as well as anticipated reforms to the UK Government’s all-important Contracts for Difference process for awarding electricity supply contracts, will better support collaboration and innovation across the domestic supply chain.
“To ensure that developers have a clear framework to deliver the next round of offshore wind projects, we have also published a Sectoral Marine Plan identifying areas that are appropriate for commercial-scale developments and providing a strategic springboard for achieving our aspirations for future development.
“The plan is based on extensive consultation and seeks to balance the vital importance of our marine environment and other key sectors with the huge ambition and opportunity we have for the offshore wind sector.”
Crown Estate Scotland head of energy and infrastructure John Robertson said: “Today is an important step in the journey towards a world class offshore wind sector in Scotland, and it means that we can proceed with the next phase of ScotWind Leasing.
“Our ability to harness Scotland’s huge potential for offshore wind is a vital part of the wider efforts to hit Scotland’s ambitious Net Zero targets, and help our communities tap into the economic prize on offer.”
Crown Estate Scotland will now provide a plan to publish the final process and timelines for ScotWind Leasing going forward. That detail, called the Post-adoption Addendum to ScotWind Leasing, will give developers the clarity they need to complete their applications, Robertson said.
Co-chair of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council Brian McFarlane said: “The Scottish Government’s belief that the ambition for the Scottish offshore wind sector should be raised to 11GW by 2030, from 1GW today, sets a pathway for the sector which aligns with Scotland’s net-zero ambitions, in which offshore wind will play a fundamental role.
“Industry and government must now work collaboratively together, alongside other users of the sea, to create a competitive, commercially-attractive offshore wind sector in Scotland which can deliver both domestically and in the global offshore wind market.”
However there were some concerns about the progress of the draft Sectoral Marine Plan.
Scottish Renewables senior policy manager Ben Miller said: “The Scottish Government’s statement that 11GW of offshore wind deployment is possible by 2030 means there is much work to do, but this is a milestone moment for the decade ahead.
“We are however disappointed that some areas in the draft Sectoral Marine Plan have not been taken forward at this stage.
“If we are to deliver on those stretching climate targets it’s imperative that we use every tool in our armoury and continue to work together to find creative solutions to the further deployment of the cheap, popular renewable energy technologies which are already delivering environmental and economic benefits across Scotland.”