New ScotWind offshore wind round ‘must bring jobs to Scottish yards’, MSP warns
North-east MSP Lewis Macdonald has called for the Scottish Government to ensure the new ScotWind licensing round for offshore wind brings in Scottish jobs.
Paul Wheelhouse
Highland and Grampian offshore wind boom could create ‘pipeline of work for 50 years’
An expected £8billion offshore wind boom promises the Highlands a “once-in-a-generation opportunity that could transform the region,” it was predicted yesterday.
‘Huge step forward’ as Scotland launches first offshore wind leasing in a decade
A 'huge' multi-billion pound investment opportunity has opened up with the launch of Scotland's first offshore wind leasing round in a decade, the country's seabed regulator has claimed.
‘If there is to be a new jobs taskforce then at least make sure that it is joined-up’
Not many days ago, a Scottish MSP said the Holyrood government ought to revive an initiative originally set up in 2015 to protect and sustain oil and gas jobs at a time of crisis.
Scotland ‘fleshing out’ support actions for oil sector following crisis talks
Scotland’s energy minister said work to “flesh out actions” to protect jobs and accelerate the transition to low carbon fuels is underway, following the first of several industry crisis talks.
Call for Scottish Government to engage Westminster over lack of clarity on North Sea furlough scheme
A north-east MSP has called for the Scottish Government to engage Westminster and provide clarity to North Sea firms over who qualifies for the Covid-19 furlough scheme.
Norway’s rare tax changes to save oil industry would be ‘very welcome’ in UK, says expert
Norway has outlined plans for “extremely rare” changes to its tax regime to save the crisis-hit oil industry which would be “very welcome” for UK firms, according to an expert.
Wheelhouse to lead strategic Covid-19 task force meetings on future of North Sea workforce
Scottish energy minster Paul Wheelhouse is set to lead strategic task force meetings on the future of the North Sea workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic.
North-east decarbonisation projects win government cash boost
Two north-east decarbonisation projects have managed to secure significant UK Government funding to further their work on CO2 reduction programmes.
Cnooc to cut worker numbers on North Sea helicopters to address Covid-19 social distancing
Oil and gas operator China National Offshore Oil Corporation (Cnooc) International is set to halve worker numbers travelling by helicopter to its North Sea assets in an attempt to socially distance staff and combat the spread of coronavirus offshore.
Eight winners of Scottish Government funded floating wind competition
A 3D-printed anchor and self-charging mooring line monitoring device are among eight floating wind farm innovations unveiled as winners of a technology acceleration competition.
No target ‘at present’ to increase ethnic minorities in offshore wind, Scot Gov admits
Scotland currently has no target to increase the percentage of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) workers in the country’s offshore wind sector.
New Scottish Government bill to further the development of heat energy
A Bill has been introduced at Holyrood with the aim of furthering the development of community heating networks.
Pressure ‘to leave discoveries in North Sea’ will grow as COP26 climate summit approaches – Wheelhouse
Scotland’s energy minister expects public pressure to “leave discoveries in the North Sea” to grow as a major climate summit approaches this year.
Further jobs to go at BiFab as speculation mounts of delay to NnG project
Further jobs are set to go at Fife-based manufacturer Burntisland Fabrication (BiFab) as it emerged that a potential life-saving wind farm contract for the firm could be delayed.
Scottish plan to be turbine monopiles construction hub ‘really big ask’, expert says
New proposals to make Scotland a monopile construction hub for future UK-wide offshore wind projects has been branded “a really big ask” by a UK renewable energy expert.
We need to address the offshore wind ‘elephant in the room’
I agree with Scottish Government Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse on many things: the imperative to tackle the UK and Scotland’s climate emergency; the essential role deploying renewables plays in doing so; and the crucial need to achieve this roll-out at the lowest cost possible to energy consumers.
UK North Sea needs wind powered oil and gas platforms ‘as soon as possible’, Wheelhouse says
The UK needs to see floating wind projects power North Sea oil and gas installations “as soon as possible”, according to Scotland’s energy minister.
North Sea wind projects ‘not enough’ to support Scottish supply chain, SSE boss warns
North Sea wind projects alone “will not support” a vibrant home supply chain and jobs, according to the boss of Scotland’s biggest offshore wind developer.
Potential for ‘thousands’ of jobs as Sir Ian Wood unveils plans for Aberdeen ‘Energy Transition Zone’
Sir Ian Wood has unveiled ambitious plans to help the north-east economy capitalise on the energy transition, potentially creating “thousands” of jobs in the process.
New offshore wind rules ‘unpleasant’ for developers but important, Wheelhouse says
A strict new rule change by the Scottish Government requires offshore wind farm developers to set out how they plan to create local jobs.
Scot Gov announces £30m renewable energy homes plan
The Scottish Government has announced it is set to introduce a multi-million plan to ensure all new homes use renewable energy from 2024.
‘Particularly significant’ year for Scottish energy sector as climate emergency came calling
As years go, 2019 was a particularly significant one for Scotland’s energy sector, most notably with the Scottish Government declaring a climate emergency, and outlining our commitment to become a net-zero emissions economy and society by 2045.
Aberdeen must ‘strike now or miss its chance’ on offshore wind, MSP warns
Aberdeen must “strike now or miss its chance” on the offshore wind market, a local MSP has warned after a new plans revealed future projects could dominate the north-east coastline.
New £1bn Caithness-Moray energy link hailed ‘critical’ in helping to fight climate change
A £1billion undersea energy cable to transmit renewable energy from the north of the Scotland to the rest of the country has been hailed as a “critical” part of the country’s fight on climate change.