Crown Estate Scotland – the public body that manages seabed leasing to help developers – passes the money it makes from offshore renewables to the Scottish government for public spending.
Crown Estate Scotland has unveiled proposals to lease seabed to encourage a new generation of offshore wind projects in Scotland’s waters.
The paper, published today, outlines the draft process and asks those interested to provide feedback to help shape the final approach. Projects will have to be sited in areas identified in Marine Scotland’s forthcoming Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind.
Crown Estate Scotland – the public body that manages seabed leasing to help developers – 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, Hywind Scotland), two being built (Beatrice and the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre), and several others due to start being built soon. According to Crown Estate Scotland, 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; and
- allowing early engagement with stakeholders.
“Using our seas to power Scotland is an important part of our economic and environmental well-being,” said John Robertson, senior energy & infrastructure manager at Crown Estate Scotland. “To provide affordable, secure, and clean energy, Scotland must continue to sustainably use its natural resources and grow the offshore wind sector.”
The Scottish government’s energy strategy confirms a commitment to work with Crown Estate Scotland and Marine Scotland on new offshore wind, as part of a whole-system approach to meeting a 2030 target of 50% of energy consumption (heat, transport, and electricity) being from renewable sources, Crown Estate Scotland states. The U.K. government’s Clean Growth Strategy also includes a commitment to work with Crown Estate Scotland to understand the potential for deployment of offshore wind from the late-2020s onward.
Crown Estate Scotland plans to launch its final leasing process late 2018 or early 2019.
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind, Projects
