Thousands of jobs and tens of billions of pounds of investment in Scotland’s offshore wind sector could be put at risk by the UK Government’s forthcoming energy blueprint, industry leaders have warned.
Trade bodies, unions, ports and business groups have written to Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh amid concerns the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) could sideline Scottish floating offshore wind and jeopardise major ScotWind projects.
Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce is among the signatories to the letter, alongside Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Global Underwater Hub, Opportunity North East, Energy Transition Zone Ltd and port operators including Aberdeen, Peterhead and Montrose.
The letter, published in The Times today, warns that choosing the wrong path would 'put a substantial part of Scotland’s offshore wind opportunity at risk', with projects potentially 'delayed, scaled back or face a much harder route to construction'.
It said: 'That would send a negative and unwelcome signal to developers, manufacturers, ports and investors that the UK government sees a much diminished role for Scottish offshore wind in Britain’s future energy system.
'That would weaken confidence across the supply chain, reduce the prospect of contracts coming to Scotland and make further investment in Scottish ports and industrial facilities harder to justify.
'The lowest-cost or most readily deliverable pathway in the near term will not necessarily provide best value over the full life of the plan.
'The decision must capture the long-term scale and industrial value of ScotWind, including the consequences for energy security and North Sea communities.'
Crown Estate Scotland projections cited in the letter suggest ScotWind could deliver £78.5billion of investment, while the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas leasing round could add more than £17billion. Together, the activity could support more than 21,000 jobs annually in the coming decades.
The letter added: 'These benefits depend on projects reaching construction. Ports and industrial sites across Scotland are already investing in the facilities, land and capability required to support offshore wind.
'Future investment decisions depend on confidence in a substantial and deliverable pipeline of projects.
'The consequences will be felt across Scotland, with particularly high stakes for the North Sea transition.'
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'Floating offshore wind is key to harnessing more of our natural clean energy resources.
'We are working with the National Energy System Operator on delivering the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, which will set out a strategy for how new infrastructure should be spread across the country and create growth in every postcode.'
Source: Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
