Minister for Energy and the Environment has called for immediate UK
Government action to make the transformative potential of
offshore wind a reality.
Ms Martin said significant reinforcement and expansion of the
electricity/power grid is needed, using the UK Government’s
reserved powers, to connect offshore wind projects including
ScotWind – with the potential to power many millions more homes.
Ahead of a speech at one of the UK’s largest offshore wind
conferences in London today (Thursday 15th June), the
Energy Minister has also called for new powers to modernise the
planning and consenting system for grid infrastructure to be
devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Ms Martin will meet a range of key industry figures at Renewable
UK’s Global Offshore Wind 2023, including outgoing UK Offshore
Wind Champion Tim Pick, whose independent report made a series of
key recommendations to the UK Government to accelerate delivery
of offshore wind energy.
The Minister said:
“Scotland finds itself at the forefront of a renewable energy
revolution. ScotWind, as the world’s largest commercial leasing
round for floating offshore wind, has set the benchmark for
industrial-scale deployment. We need to be ready to capitalise on
that and take forward the greatest economic opportunity of recent
times.
“There is more that Ofgem, the National Grid electricity system
operator and the UK Government can do. High transmission charges
remain a key barrier to Net Zero in Scotland and a new approach
is needed.
“Reform of the connections process is urgently required to allow
projects to join when they’re ready to do so. And the UK
Government needs to provide the right powers to the Scottish
Parliament and Scottish Government that will enable us to
modernise the planning and consenting system for grid
infrastructure.
“These are challenges which must be tackled immediately if
Scotland – and indeed the UK – is to stay on target for a just
transition to net zero and to truly reap the benefits of
Scotland’s enormous offshore wind potential.”
