Scottish government boosts sector with 拢15m to develop new foundation designs
The Scottish government has announced it will invest 拢15m in developing better foundations for offshore wind farms to help speed up their construction.
The Scottish Innovation Foundation Technologies Fund will support the development of new foundation designs for turbines in water deeper than 30 metres.
Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing said Scotland had been one of the first countries to develop deep water wind power technology and that the country鈥檚 鈥渆ngineering expertise will play an increasingly important role as the industry moves to harness the wind further offshore鈥�.
He added: 鈥淭his funding will help maintain Scotland鈥檚 position as one of the world鈥檚 most attractive destinations for renewable energy investment, development and deployment.
鈥淚t will help lower costs in developing the foundations needed for wind turbines in deeper water and more varied seabed conditions 鈥� currently the second largest cost associated with this type of project.
鈥淚t should also benefit Scottish companies through the supply chain, securing jobs and boosting our economic recovery.鈥�
Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said the cash was a 鈥渧ote of confidence鈥� in the industry.
He added: 鈥淎longside energy saving measures, marine renewables will have a critical role to play in helping Scotland reduce climate emissions as we phase out polluting fossil fuels and nuclear power.鈥�
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