INVESTORS in Scottish green energy can have more confidence in the future of the sector, thanks to a new group set up to accelerate the planning process for new projects, according to leading firms in the industry.
It is hoped the offshore renewables taskforce will lead to better licence applications and quicker approval from Scottish ministers.
The group, which includes representatives from the industry and wider business organisations, was launched by the Scottish Government to help reach its target of 100% of Scotland’s electricity needs coming from renewables by 2020.
Taskforce chairman and Scotland’s energy minister Fergus Ewing said: “We need to ensure that companies who want to invest in our renewable-energy industry and build the projects that would deliver the target can do so efficiently and quickly.
“My taskforce aims to help streamline this process and help offshore renewable-energy developers produce sympathetic and well conceived applications.”
A spokesman for power firm SSE, which is represented on the new group, said: “The bringing together of key industry representatives and the Scottish Government to help improve and streamline the planning and consents process for offshore development delivers confidence to investors that Scotland is as well placed as anywhere in the world for future offshore generation.”
Neil Kermode, managing director at the European Marine Energy Centre, in Orkney, said that the taskforce would help developers to get answers quickly and clearly.
He added: “Its creation has brought experienced industry professionals together to ensure that Scotland’s waters receive the protection that they need from inappropriate development, while also encouraging marine renewable projects in the correct locations.”
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