Scotland is fast becoming the centre of excellence in renewable energy and offshore engineering


The wind at our feet


SCOTLAND is blessed with 25 per cent of Europe’s wind and tidal resources along with 10 per cent of its wave potential. Taming and harnessing this enormous


offshore renewable resource, estimated at 206GW, will be the new frontier of energy development. It will not be easy, it will require new technologies to operate in one of the harshest environments in the world. The lessons learned in our oil and gas sector in the North Sea will help but it will not be the whole answer as the two industries differ greatly in their basic engineering requirements. Offshore renewables requires new efficient machine designs to generate electricity in an environment that is itself part of the problem, as water and electricity do not mix. Such is the confidence in the country’s


burgeoning renewable power industry that the Scottish Government increased its 2020 renewables target last year to produce the equivalent of 100 per cent of its energy production from renewable sources. The Government’s confidence is not


misplaced. Statistics from the Department for Energy and Climate Change in 2010 showed that 25 per cent of Scotland’s electricity demand was met by renewables and that this level was then acheived in the first three quarters of 2011 making it a record year for the industry. According to industry figures, the year to October 2011 also saw a record breaking £750


million of investment in renewable energy projects in Scotland. Projects currently in operation, under construction or consented total 7GW with a pipeline of proposed projects during 2012 to deliver 17GW of generating capacity worth an estimated capital investment of £46 billion. This world-recognised leadership in


renewable energy has attracted international companies to Scotland to develop their R&D activities, such as Mitsubishi Power Systems, Samsung Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Gamesa. Government support is also strong with the


UK Technology Strategy Board’s Catapult centre for offshore engineering being established in Glasgow and transmission infrastructure initiatives being developed for renwable energy with Norway and Ireland . Michael Rieley, Policy Officer with


Scottish Renewables said: “In our 2010 study we identified the potential of £7.1 billion of investment in offshore wind farms alone over the next 10 years that would require 28,000 jobs. “Engineers from right across the board in civil, mechanical and electrical disciplines will be in demand, not just in the R&D and design phases but also in the installation, operational stages and throughout the supply chain. Scotland will be an attractive place for engineers because of our world-leading status in this exciting industry.”


In our 2010 study we identified the potential for £7.1 billion of investment in offshore wind farms alone over the next 10 years that would require 28,000 jobs


MICHAEL RIELEY, POLICY OFFICER WITH SCOTTISH RENEWABLES 6 www.talentscotland.com/renewables


Marine energy


Another area where Scotland is leading the world is in the commercial development of wave and tidal energy. A number of different devices are currently being tested at the European


WORK


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