Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group

Overview

The Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group (OWSLG) was established in February 2023 following the publication of the Onshore Wind Policy Statement (OWPS). The OWPS set an ambition of 20GW of installed onshore wind capacity operational by 2030, more than doubling Scotland’s current capacity of onshore wind.

We believe onshore wind has the potential to offer significant economic growth, skilled employment opportunities and biodiversity benefits, as well as contribute to our net zero ambitions. We want to work with industry and communities to enable this. To enable the delivery of this, the OWPS set out the need for a strategic partnership between industry, government and communities to deliver this ambition, whilst maximising the benefits to people in Scotland.

As a result, the OWSLG has now been formed and is tasked with bringing together existing workstreams, tackling barriers to the deployment of onshore wind and developing a Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal.

The OWSLG is chaired by the Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work and the CEO of Scottish Renewables. 

Related groups

• Scottish Energy Advisory Board

Members

• Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Acting Minister for Climate Action (co-chair)
• Claire Mack, Scottish Renewables (co-chair)
• Ragne Low, Deputy Director Onshore Electricity, Strategy and Consents (deputy co-chair)
• Morag Watson (Sector Deal Lead), Scottish Renewables (deputy co-chair and Sector Deal lead)
• Heather Donald (G12 Representative), SSE
• John Boyce (G12 Representative), Renewable Energy Systems Ltd
• Sam Johnson (Technical Barriers Lead), Aviation Investment Fund Company Limited & Renewable Energy Systems Ltd
• Robbie Kernahan (Land Use and Environmental Considerations Lead), NatureScot
• Simon Gill (Legislative and Regulatory Barriers Lead), The Energy Landscape
• Marcus Trinick KC (Planning Considerations Lead)
• Chris Morris (Community Energy Lead), Local Energy Scotland
• Paul Wheelhouse (Supply Chain and Skills Lead), South of Scotland Enterprise
• Paul Cantwell (Circular Economy Lead), National Manufacturing Institute 

Publications

Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group: terms of reference

Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group minutes: 21 May 2024

Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group minutes: July 2022