Standard content for Members only

To continue reading this article, please login to your Utility Week account, Start 14 day trial or Become a member.

If your organisation already has a corporate membership and you haven’t activated it simply follow the register link below. Check here.

Become a member

Start 14 day trial

Login Register

Scotland approves over 2GW of offshore wind capacity

The Scottish Government on Friday approved planning applications for four offshore wind farms.

The projects have a combined capacity of over 2GW and represent a combined economic benefit of between £314 million and £1.2 billion in Scotland over their lifetime, the government added.

But Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing said in a statement that although the four projects will be eligible to compete for the UK government’s contracts for difference (CfD) funding scheme, only 800MW would succeed in the first round.

“The level of support available to the offshore renewables sector sits in stark contrast to the unprecedented financial backing being offered to new nuclear plants, with a possible £35 billion subsidy for the new Hinkley Point C station alone in addition to a £10 billion loan guarantee,” Ewing said in a statement.

“This inevitably means that growth in green energy will be restricted, a sector where Scotland has a competitive advantage,” he added.