New offshore wind areas around Scotland

New areas have been identified for future offshore wind development in Scotland’s waters.

Marine Scotland Science’s new research report for Offshore Wind Energy in Scottish waters is the first stage in the process to identify potential new areas for offshore wind energy.

The new areas could support a further 10 Gigawatts of development and are additional to the plans already in place for 10 Gigawatts of offshore wind around Scotland.

The news comes as Energy Minister Fergus Ewing delivers the keynote speech at the opening day of the European Wind Energy Association offshore wind conference in Amsterdam, which attracts more than 7,500 participants and over 480 exhibitors.

The report will now be followed by more detailed Regional Locational Guidance to provide industry, including those in the supply chain, with the best knowledge to locate their activities in Scotland.

Mr Ewing also announced a new £5 million offshore renewables R & D programme, using European Regional Development Funds, to be taken forward by Scottish Enterprise. The programme will help minimise costs and risks in the offshore environment by supporting research and development, prototype development, innovation and commercialisation activities involving small and medium sized enterprises.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “The Scottish Government is working with public and private sector partners to support green energy developments and the reindustrialisation of Scotland's communities.

“Marine Scotland’s new report for future Offshore Wind Energy in Scottish Waters identifies areas around Scotland with suitable resource for offshore wind development - areas of shallow waters which are suitable for existing technologies, but also deepwater areas which could used for emerging offshore technologies such as floating technology. We will now produce a revised plan in 2013 to better understand the waters around Scotland and provide developers with the confidence to move to the next stage of project development in Scottish waters.”

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing told the conference: “With an estimated 25 per cent of Europe’s offshore wind resource, Scotland is the place to come and do business and reap the massive benefits of new offshore wind development and deployment.

“We have demonstrated our commitment with an ambitious but achievable target of the equivalent of 100 per cent of Scotland’s electricity needs coming from renewables by 2020. By positioning Scotland as a world leader in low carbon activities, we are witnessing new investment and new jobs. Offshore wind could support almost 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in Scotland by 2020, generating over £7 billion for our economy, while there is already £300 million being invested in Scotland to develop the next generation offshore wind turbines. But we want to go further and secure more - much more - international investment on Scotland’s shores and I look forward to working with you all right across Europe.”

Anne MacColl, Chief Executive of Scottish Development International said: “Scotland continues to demonstrate its strength and potential in the field of offshore wind, both as an ideal place to invest and as an innovative breeding ground for new developments in the sector. Existing developments coupled with these new offshore wind search areas identified by Marine Scotland and the significant funding available via the various schemes, means Scotland is clearly establishing itself as a world leading location for this fast growing sector.”

Gareth Baird, The Crown Estate's Scottish Commissioner said: “We are working closely with the Scottish Government to help achieve their ambitious targets for development of marine renewables in Scottish waters. The publication of the Report marks another milestone in offshore wind development.”