New offshore wind body for Scotland targets 8GW by 2030

A new body has been launched with the aim of increasing offshore wind capacity in Scotland to 8GW by 2030 – enough to meet the electricity demands of 5.2 million households.

The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council consists of Scottish Renewables, Scottish Enterprise, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Crown Estate Scotland, Red Rock Power and the Energy Skills Partnership.

It is co-chaired by the Scottish Government energy minister Paul Wheelhouse and Brian McFarlane, head of projects for offshore development at SSE Renewables.

The council has set itself five key goals:

• Deliver at least 8GW of offshore wind in Scottish waters by 2030.
• Develop a plan for the offshore wind’s contribution to meeting Scotland’s target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045.
• Create a competitive, commercially-attractive offshore wind sector in Scotland, which can deliver both domestically and in the global market.
• Work to increase local content of offshore wind projects in line with the UK government’s sector deal, whilst developing a sustainable, world-class supply chain.
• Boost the number of offshore wind jobs in Scotland to more than 6,000 – an increase of 75 per cent on 2019 figures.

The council will work with two offshore wind clusters – DeepWind and Forth and Tay Offshore – set up as part of the sector deal signed by the government and industry in March this year.

Council co-chair Brian McFarlane said: “The council’s goals are aligned around the need to capture Scotland’s offshore renewable energy resource in a way which delivers maximum economic and environmental advantage.

“Offshore wind will play a key role in our efforts to tackle the climate emergency and achieve Scotland’s ambitious net-zero emissions target, and the members of the council are committed to ensuring that Scotland makes the most of this most innovative of technologies as we seek to further decarbonise our energy system.”

Meanwhile, Paul Wheelhouse said: “The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council has been created to ensure that all those involved are pulling together to deliver on bold plans to create a competitive, commercially-attractive offshore wind sector in Scotland which can deliver both domestically and in the global offshore wind market, with opportunities to develop a globally-competitive supply chain for fixed foundation and floating wind technologies.

“The broad nature of the group – including as it does representatives from both the public and private sectors – and the skills and experience on which it can draw give Scotland the very best chance of success in offshore wind as these multi-billion pound renewable energy projects build out in Scottish waters.”

RenewableUK’s director of strategic communications, Luke Clark, said: “Offshore wind is bringing benefits to every part of the UK and the industry is set for rapid growth in the next decade.

“By 2030 offshore wind will be meeting at least a third of the UK’s power needs and the sector will support over 27,000 jobs.

“Scotland plays a key role in our industry, and the establishment of SOWEC will help maximise the benefits for Scotland as we develop the offshore wind capacity needed to meet the UK’s net zero emissions target.”