Offshore wind

Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, today responded to the announcement from the Offshore Wind Programme Board that the cost of energy from offshore wind has fallen by 32% since 2012.

Mr Wheelhouse said:

“I welcome today’s announcement that the cost of energy from offshore wind has fallen by almost a third since 2012. This is proof that the sector is rising to the challenge to reduce the cost of offshore wind, and Scotland can also be rightly proud of how we are playing our part and leading the way in the development of floating offshore wind off our coastline.‎"

“Our commitment to supporting low carbon energy is outlined in our new Energy Strategy, published today, which sets out our vision for energy production in Scotland to 2050. It outlines the next steps in how we will continue to transition to a low carbon economy, with the offshore wind sector to take an increasingly influential part in that.

“Offshore wind is central to Scotland’s carbon emission reduction targets. With 25% of Europe’s offshore wind potential, we are uniquely positioned to maximise the economic and environmental benefits that the technology can deliver.

“Today I am addressing the Scottish Renewables Offshore Wind Conference, a key forum for discussion around how we can harness strengths in engineering, science, business and humanities to develop new technologies for the offshore renewables sector.

“Despite the lack of engagement over some key issues for the renewables sector, I remain keen to work together with the UK Government to deliver for our future energy systems and collectively maximise the economic contribution of our approach. This includes responding to the new BEIS Industrial Strategy, which was published on Monday, and to support shared aims of achieving further reduction in the costs of achieving our decarbonisation goals in both the power and industrial sectors.

"We remain of the view that the significant progress that was made in reducing costs of onshore wind, and now this significant success for offshore wind, will also be replicated in other areas such as tidal stream and wave power and I urge the UK Government to recognise this and to give greater support to offshore wind and other less established technologies."