First Minister Alex Salmond hailed a new green energy revolution yesterday, claiming it would create 20,000 jobs and boost Scotland’s struggling economy.
Speaking on a visit to Aberdeen, he predicted renewable technology off Scotland’s coast would soon create enough energy to power the nation up to 10 times over.
His comments came as plans to build 10 offshore windfarms moved a major step forward with the announcement that permission had been given for companies to begin surveying sites.
Making comparisons with the arrival of oil in the north-east four decades ago, he said yesterday’s announcement by the Crown Estate that nine companies had been granted “exclusivity agreements” for the development of 10 offshore windfarm sites was “extremely significant”.
“Scotland has a fantastic competitive advantage in developing offshore renewables, with up to 25% of Europe’s offshore wind, wave and tidal energy potential and a world-class scientific capacity and skills base.
“That is why today’s landmark announcement is a huge boost, not only in terms of our energy ambitions but to the Scottish economy as a whole,” he said. “If you like, this represents our second big win in the energy lottery. We have to make sure that, with this new big win, the benefits are here to stay for the Scottish economy.”
Mr Salmond said it was estimated that offshore energy technology would create 20,000 jobs in Scotland over the next 20 years and that it would be able to produce between five and 10 times Scotland’s energy requirements within “a few years”.
The first minister also revealed that there had been 75 registrations of interest in the Scottish Government’s £10million Saltire Prize competition for tidal and wave energy schemes.
Mr Salmond was speaking after opening the new offices of SeaEnergy at Westhill, near Aberdeen.
The company was celebrating its selection as preferred bidder to develop a windfarm site with Scottish and Southern Energy at Beatrice, in the Moray Firth, and with Npower Renewables at a site at Inch Cape, in the outer Tay estuary.
Another eight potential windfarm sites are to be surveyed following the ann-ouncement – in the Solway Firth, Wigtown Bay, Kintyre, Islay, Argyll Array, Bell Rock in the Tay estuary, the Forth Array and Neart na Gaoithe, near the Firth of Forth.
The 10 sites have the potential to generate over 6GW of offshore electricity, equal-ling Scotland’s energy consumption on an average day.
Jason Ormiston, chief executive of green energy trade body Scottish Renewables, said: “Today heralds an exciting phase in the progress of the renewable energy industry in Scotland.
“The combined capacity of these projects will make a massive contribution to Scotland’s efforts in tackling climate change, helping to deliver reliable and affordable supplies of electricity to consumers and, very importantly, the Scottish economy.”
The 10 exclusivity agreements are designed to allow developers to begin survey and consultation processes for the sites, while the Scottish Government conducts a strategic environmental assessment for offshore wind within territorial waters.
Leases that allow developers to press ahead with construction works will be granted by the Crown Estate only once statutory consents and permissions have been obtained from the Scottish Government.
The Crown Estate said it was working closely with Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group on its proposal for a further project off Aberdeen.
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