Weekly Intelligence Brief

Support renewable energy schemes at sea: Scottish Renewables

16 November 2009

Scotland’s carbon emissions will be slashed by wind, wave and tidal power in the next decade making a major contribution to initiatives being taken to tackle climate change, according to trade association Scottish Renewables.

Scottish Renewables estimates that offshore wind development and the predicted wave and tidal developments in Scottish waters by 2020 will deliver carbon reductions equivalent to 30% of Scotland’s total emissions.

The figures were released as the Scottish Marine Bill took its next steps through the Scottish Parliament earlier late last month. The bill will establish new planning and licensing mechanisms for renewable energy.

Scottish Renewables, a forum of key players with interests including biomass, hydro, micro, marine and wind technologies, is calling for duties to be put into the Marine Bill as it proceeds through parliament to ensure climate change delivery is a strong part of national and regional marine plans that will emerge from it. Scottish Renewables said Scotland’s new Marine Bill, which is being considered by MSPs, should not constrain renewable energy schemes at sea.

The industry is also calling for the new management body, Marine Scotland, to have a strong climate change duty placed on it by Ministers using their new powers under climate change laws.