The Scottish government has set a target to meet 80% of gross electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020. Scotland is well-placed to make a significant contribution to the overall UK target of 15% energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Scotland has an estimated 25% of Europe’s offshore wind potential. Therefore, the large scale development of offshore wind represents the biggest opportunity for sustainable economic growth in Scotland for a generation. To ensure that Scotland exploits this opportunity, the Offshore Wind Group ( OWIG) was established in early 2009.
Co-chaired by the Scottish Government and industry (ScottishPower Renewables), OWIG brings together all offshore wind developers active in Scotland, grid companies, manufacturing firms, academia, other relevant parties and the key public sector bodies. The Group assesses what needs to happen now to secure the large scale development of offshore wind in Scotland for decades to come.
This Offshore Wind Route Map is the culmination of the work undertaken by OWIG, setting out the opportunities, challenges and the priority recommendations for action.
Publication of this Route Map is timely given the increased pressures for the development of renewable energy flowing from the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and the new European Directive on Renewable Energy . Offshore wind will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s renewable energy target of 80% of Scotland’s electricity consumption coming from renewable sources by 2020. The Route Map also complements the Scottish Government’s vision for renewable energy as set out in its Renewables Action Plan.
