NEW funding will help make the renewables sector self-supporting, it is claimed.
Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse announced further investment of £1.5 million in a scheme aimed at boosting offshore wind.
The Carbon Trust, which runs the Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA), said the work will help end the need for subsidies in the fledgling industry.
Director Jan Matthiesen said the funding from the Scottish Government, together with the investment from nine developers, shows “real confidence” in the ability of the project to drive down costs and make development and deployment more viable.
He added: “This signals continuing support and investment into a programme that has helped to reduce the costs of offshore wind and helped to pave the way towards a subsidy-free energy source.”
Last year ministers provided the same sum to the project. Wheelhouse announced the latest award during a visit to Burntisland Fabrication’s (BiFab) yard in Methil, Fife.
He said: “The Scottish Government’s decision to invest a further £1.5m into the OWA is a ringing endorsement of the great potential of this programme to help Scotland to utilise the full potential of offshore wind, and to ensure that we make it as affordable as possible.
“The Carbon Trust have done a fantastic job so far in reducing the costs of offshore wind, as well as encouraging collaboration across the public and private sectors to improve the industry as a whole.
“The potential benefits of offshore wind energy in Scotland are enormous, which is why the Scottish Government is committed to its development. By continuing to invest in it, not only are we stimulating economic change for the better, but we’re also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland and helping to fight the impacts of climate change.”
Lindsay Roberts, of industry body Scottish Renewables, said: “Scotland has huge amounts to gain from offshore wind and it’s an incredibly exciting time for the industry.”
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