New report identifies Scottish green energy sites
4 February 2010
Responding to the publication today of a new report [1] by Scottish Enterprise identifying eleven potential manufacturing bases for offshore windfarms in Scotland, Dr Dan Barlow, Head of Policy at WWF Scotland said:
"This report shows Scotland is not only in a great position to harness offshore wind to produce energy, but there are significant economic opportunities if we ensure the construction of those devices takes place here too. Scotland must make sure it grabs the golden opportunity that offshore wind offers it with both hands and start investing in the locations identified in the report.
"The investment decisions we make today will decide if we put ourselves at the forefront of a new global green economy. Off and onshore wind, along with wave, tidal, hydro, biomass and solar are all going to be important in Scotland's future mix of clean, green energy and each one provides new economic opportunites that we must grasp if we are to meet the commitments in the Climate Change Act."
The sites that have been identified as potential locations for a first phase of staged investment are:
• Leith
• Dundee
• Nigg
• Energy Park Fife at Methil
• Hunterston
• Aberdeen
• Arnish
• Campbeltown/Machrihanish
• Ardesier
• Kishorn
• Peterhead
Last year WWF along with a number of other NGO’s released The Power of Scotland Renewed report, based on research by independent energy analysts Garrad Hassan. It shows that there is enormous potential to increase generation of electricity from renewable sources during the next two decades, so much so that by 2030 renewable energy can meet between 60 per cent and 143 per cent of Scotland’s projected annual electricity demand. [2]
Notes to Editors
[1] Scottish Enterprise report Scotland’s National Renewable Infrastructure Plan http://www.scottish-enterprise.presscentre.com/Press-releases/Industry-report-identifies-Scotland-s-key-locations-for-offshore-wind-suppliers-1c7.aspx
[2] Power of Scotland Renewed
http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/powerofscotland_renewed.pdf
[3] WWF Scotland is part of Stop Climate Chaos, an alliance of development, environment and civil society groups aiming for tougher action to reduce emissions -http://stopclimatechaosscotland.org
