Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy

Report

Title: Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy

Author:

Scottish Government

Publication Date:

October 1, 2020

Document Number:

978-1-80004-242-1

Pages:

Technology:

Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind

Receptor:

Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning

Language:

English

Document Access

Website:

External Link

Attachment:

Access File

Citation

Scottish Government (2020). Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (Report No. 978-1-80004-242-1).

TY - RPRT
TI - Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy
AU - Scottish Government
AB - The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring secure, reliable and affordable energy supplies, within the context of long-term decarbonisation of energy generation. As set out in the Offshore Wind Policy Statement, which builds on the ambitions outlined in Scotland’s Energy Strategy, the continued growth of the renewable energy sector in Scotland will be an essential feature of our future clean energy system and a potential key driver of economic growth. As a nation with an abundance of renewable energy resources, opportunities exist not only to meet domestic needs, but also to export low carbon energy to the rest of UK and Europe.To-date, Scotland has seen a significant amount of offshore wind energy activity, with 14 offshore wind farms (including two floating wind farms) having received consent, six of which are currently operational. This equates to a total generating capacity of just over 5 Gigawatts (“GW”). Our first Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (Blue Seas Green Energy) (“the 2011 Plan”) was adopted in 2011, with draft wind, wave and tidal plans subsequently produced in 2013.Three of the six short-term option sites identified in the 2011 Plan have progressed to consenting (Beatrice, Inch Cape and Neart na Gaoithe), with Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm becoming operational in 2019 with an installed capacity of 588 MW. As part of the 3rd UK Offshore Wind Farm Leasing Round, two Round 3 sites are being progressed in Scottish Waters - the Firth of Forth Offshore Wind Zone and the Moray Firth Offshore Wind Zone.Recent technological, policy, regulatory and market developments, such as the commitments outlined in the UK Offshore Wind Sector Deal, the development of new technologies suitable for deployment in deeper water and the aspirations established in recent climate change legislation presented the opportunity for Scottish Ministers to undertake a new strategic planning process to support further offshore wind development in Scotland’s seas. This planning process provides the spatial strategy to support the current CES ScotWind leasing round, the first offshore wind leasing round to be administered in Scotland.
DA - 2020/10//
PY - 2020
SP - 79
SN - 978-1-80004-242-1
UR - https://www.gov.scot/publications/sectoral-marine-plan-offshore-wind-energy/documents/
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Human Dimensions
KW - Legal & Policy
KW - Marine Spatial Planning
ER -

Export Citation to RIS

Abstract

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring secure, reliable and affordable energy supplies, within the context of long-term decarbonisation of energy generation. As set out in the Offshore Wind Policy Statement, which builds on the ambitions outlined in Scotland’s Energy Strategy, the continued growth of the renewable energy sector in Scotland will be an essential feature of our future clean energy system and a potential key driver of economic growth. As a nation with an abundance of renewable energy resources, opportunities exist not only to meet domestic needs, but also to export low carbon energy to the rest of UK and Europe.

To-date, Scotland has seen a significant amount of offshore wind energy activity, with 14 offshore wind farms (including two floating wind farms) having received consent, six of which are currently operational. This equates to a total generating capacity of just over 5 Gigawatts (“GW”). Our first Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (Blue Seas Green Energy) (“the 2011 Plan”) was adopted in 2011, with draft wind, wave and tidal plans subsequently produced in 2013.

Three of the six short-term option sites identified in the 2011 Plan have progressed to consenting (Beatrice, Inch Cape and Neart na Gaoithe), with Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm becoming operational in 2019 with an installed capacity of 588 MW. As part of the 3^rd UK Offshore Wind Farm Leasing Round, two Round 3 sites are being progressed in Scottish Waters - the Firth of Forth Offshore Wind Zone and the Moray Firth Offshore Wind Zone.

Recent technological, policy, regulatory and market developments, such as the commitments outlined in the UK Offshore Wind Sector Deal, the development of new technologies suitable for deployment in deeper water and the aspirations established in recent climate change legislation presented the opportunity for Scottish Ministers to undertake a new strategic planning process to support further offshore wind development in Scotland’s seas. This planning process provides the spatial strategy to support the current CES ScotWind leasing round, the first offshore wind leasing round to be administered in Scotland.