The Scottish Crown Estate Scotland has launched a new licensing round to lease blocks of the seabed to encourage a new generation of offshore wind projects in Scotland’s waters.
The Scottish Crown Estate is a public body that manages seabed leasing to help developers progress good projects and passes the money it makes from offshore renewables to the Scottish Government for public spending.
Currently there are two offshore wind projects operating (Robin Rigg in the Solway Firth, and the Hywind Scotland floating platform off Peterheid): two being built (Beatrice and the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre) and some more due to start being built soon.
It can take up to 10 ten years to develop and construct a new offshore wind project.
John Robertson, senior energy manager at the Scottish Crown Estate, said, “Using our seas to power Scotland is an important part of our economic and environmental well-being.
“To provide affordable, secure and clean energy, Scotland must continue to sustainably use its natural resources and grow the offshore wind sector.
“This means that work needs to start now to ensure new projects are being built from late-2020s onwards.
This proposed offshore wind leasing process aims to support supply chain development and sector innovation, create jobs and stimulate economic growth by:
– Providing certainty and clarity to attract investment in a UK, European and global marketplace
– Being transparent, open and fair
– Stimulating competition and innovation
– Allowing early engagement with stakeholders”.
Scottish Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham, MSP, added: “The potential benefits of offshore renewable energy to Scotland are enormous.
“That is why it is important that the Crown Estate makes available the right seabed locations at the right time, in order to contribute to delivery of our energy strategy, attract inward investment, develop new technology and continue to drive down the associated costs of offshore energy.”
22 May 2018
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