RSE wants Scottish offshore wind bar set higher

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has called for a more ambitious offshore wind target than that proposed in Scottish Government’s consultation on the draft Offshore Wind Policy Statement.

According to the RSE, both environmental and economic incentives allow for a more ambitious energy generation target. The organisation also pointed to the continued decarbonisation of transport and heating sectors, which would lead to an increased demand for electricity.

The RSE also advocates for more floating wind in the Scottish energy generation mix, saying that floating installations benefit from fewer deployment constraints and are also likely to receive bespoke funding as part of proposed reforms to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme.

The Scottish Government opened consultation period on the draft Offshore Wind Policy Statement on 18 December 2019 to inform the pipeline of future offshore wind development and improve understanding of its role in meeting net zero targets. The consultation period was running for 14 weeks, until 25 March 2020.

In its response, the RSE also thematised both barriers to deployment and economic opportunities that increased offshore wind deployment can bring.

“The response concludes by identifying the conditions necessary to support further innovation and cost reduction, including effective knowledge exchange and different funding models. Such innovation includes stimulating the development of a hydrogen industry in Scotland, building on recent developments in this sector,” the RSE states.