More than 12,000 jobs in marine renewables could contribute £2.5 billion to Scotland's economy by 2020, according to a report published today.
The industry-led Marine Energy Group study charts a course for wave and tidal power around Scotland, and highlights actions to build further success in the sector. Its recommendations, for Government and its partners, include:
A call for the Scottish Government to repeat its Wave and Tidal Energy Support scheme A review of grid infrastructure required to support growth A fresh look at the levels of support available under the renewables obligation Calls for the Treasury to do more to help the sector, including the release of the Fossil Fuel Levy surplus funds to help promote renewables in Scotland Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney is in Orkney today where he will visit Stromness based marine energy company Aquatera.
Mr Swinney said: "With unrivalled marine resources and a range of wave, tidal and offshore wind development already underway, Scotland leads the way in generating energy from the sea.
The £10 million Saltire Prize continues to attract global interest in the marine energy potential around our coast. We also have publicly funded world leading testing facilities here in Orkney which are hosting wave and tidal devices built with Scottish Government support.
"Marine energy will be key to Scotland's future energy mix and that's why we changed our support mechanisms to give greater assistance to wave and tidal energy in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK.
"The report, put together by industry, highlights the actions it believes we need to deliver a commercial scale industry. It confirms there could be 12,500 Scottish jobs in marine renewables by 2020, a huge boost for the economy and a long term platform for sustainable growth.
"Industry recognises, as this Government has always believed, that the Treasury should unlock Scotland's share of the Fossil Fuel Levy - currently over £150 million - to allow us to give additional support to our renewables industry, the economy and environment.
"This report is an excellent example of collaboration in the public and private sectors. The recommendations are very much industry driven and we will consider their views very carefully as we continue to build a world leading renewables sector."
The Marine Energy Group is part of Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland and works to accelerate delivery of a world leading marine energy industry to provide a contribution to the sustainable economy and environment of Scotland.
Its members are:
Sian McGrath, Aquamarine Power (co-chair) Lynne Vallance, Scottish Government (co-chair)
Mike Barlow, Scottish & Southern Energy
Graham Bibby, AWS Ocean Energy
Alistair Birnie, Subsea UK
Duncan Burt, National Grid
Robin Burnett, Airtricity [from June 2009] Morna Cannon, Scottish Renewables/Scottish Government Gareth Davies, Aquatera Karen Fraser, Scottish Government Phil Gilmour, Scottish Government Neil Kermode, EMEC Audrey MacIver/Elain Cameron, Highlands & Islands Enterprise Tom Mallows, The Crown Estate Robin McGregor, Lunar Energy/Christie Griffith Alan Mortimer, ScottishPower Renewables Paul Neilson, Scottish & Southern Energy Brian Nixon, Scottish Enterprise Paul O'Brien, Scottish Development International Matthew Seed, Wavegen Robin Wallace,
The industry-led Marine Energy Group study charts a course for wave and tidal power around Scotland, and highlights actions to build further success in the sector. Its recommendations, for Government and its partners, include:
A call for the Scottish Government to repeat its Wave and Tidal Energy Support scheme A review of grid infrastructure required to support growth A fresh look at the levels of support available under the renewables obligation Calls for the Treasury to do more to help the sector, including the release of the Fossil Fuel Levy surplus funds to help promote renewables in Scotland Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney is in Orkney today where he will visit Stromness based marine energy company Aquatera.
Mr Swinney said: "With unrivalled marine resources and a range of wave, tidal and offshore wind development already underway, Scotland leads the way in generating energy from the sea.
The £10 million Saltire Prize continues to attract global interest in the marine energy potential around our coast. We also have publicly funded world leading testing facilities here in Orkney which are hosting wave and tidal devices built with Scottish Government support.
"Marine energy will be key to Scotland's future energy mix and that's why we changed our support mechanisms to give greater assistance to wave and tidal energy in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK.
"The report, put together by industry, highlights the actions it believes we need to deliver a commercial scale industry. It confirms there could be 12,500 Scottish jobs in marine renewables by 2020, a huge boost for the economy and a long term platform for sustainable growth.
"Industry recognises, as this Government has always believed, that the Treasury should unlock Scotland's share of the Fossil Fuel Levy - currently over £150 million - to allow us to give additional support to our renewables industry, the economy and environment.
"This report is an excellent example of collaboration in the public and private sectors. The recommendations are very much industry driven and we will consider their views very carefully as we continue to build a world leading renewables sector."
The Marine Energy Group is part of Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland and works to accelerate delivery of a world leading marine energy industry to provide a contribution to the sustainable economy and environment of Scotland.
Its members are:
Sian McGrath, Aquamarine Power (co-chair) Lynne Vallance, Scottish Government (co-chair)
Mike Barlow, Scottish & Southern Energy
Graham Bibby, AWS Ocean Energy
Alistair Birnie, Subsea UK
Duncan Burt, National Grid
Robin Burnett, Airtricity [from June 2009] Morna Cannon, Scottish Renewables/Scottish Government Gareth Davies, Aquatera Karen Fraser, Scottish Government Phil Gilmour, Scottish Government Neil Kermode, EMEC Audrey MacIver/Elain Cameron, Highlands & Islands Enterprise Tom Mallows, The Crown Estate Robin McGregor, Lunar Energy/Christie Griffith Alan Mortimer, ScottishPower Renewables Paul Neilson, Scottish & Southern Energy Brian Nixon, Scottish Enterprise Paul O'Brien, Scottish Development International Matthew Seed, Wavegen Robin Wallace,
