Offshore wind energy in Scotland

Scotland is well placed to become the centre of Europe’s renewable power industry.

Our wind energy potential is huge, with Scotland having over 25 percent of Europe’s wind resource and the capacity to produce huge amounts of sustainable, clean energy.

The Scottish Government’s commitment to developing Scotland’s renewable energy sector includes ambitious targets to produce the equivalent of 100 percent of Scotland’s own electricity demand from renewable resources by 2020 and to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

Some of the biggest names in offshore wind are already operating in Scotland: Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe, E.ON, Gamesa, Technip, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy are among Scotland's offshore wind energy success stories.

Scotland's offshore wind potential

Offshore wind will play a big role in meeting these targets. Scotland’s offshore wind generating capacity is set for expansion with 7000 turbines installed in UK waters over the next decade and £30 billion investment earmarked for the Scottish offshore wind industry.

A generating capacity of 10 GW is currently planned for Scottish waters. The Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm Demonstrator project has deployed the world’s largest offshore turbine in the deepest water, some 23 kilometres offshore.

Scotland aims to make the most of its huge renewable energy resources. Already home to some of the world's largest onshore wind projects, Scotland now aims to become the natural home of offshore wind development. Read about our Moray Firth and West Coast renewable energy clusters.

Why Scotland

From Clyde shipbuilding to the North Sea oil and gas industry, innovation and invention are in our blood.

Scotland's rich heritage of industrial design and heavy engineering means we already have the skill and experience to develop our offshore wind industry.

A skilled workforce, a renowned academic sector and a well developed energy infrastructure are already in place.

A wide range of support, from infrastructure to funding and from access to R and D, is available to support your investment in Scotland.

• National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP) – ensures the right sites and locations are available to help sustain growth in the renewables energy industry
• National Renewables Infrastructure Fund (N-RIF) – supports the development of port and near-port manufacturing locations for offshore turbines and related developments
• POWERS (Prototyping for Offshore Wind Energy Renewables Scotland) - A £35 million fund aimed at attracting next-generation offshore wind turbine manufacturing to Scotland
• Offshore Renewables Supply Chain Directory - an online tool showcasing the extent of Scotland's offshore renewable energy capability
• Guide to Offshore Wind and Oil and Gas Capability - A Scottish Enterprise guide highlighting how Scotland's oil and gas expertise can help the offshore wind industry
• Scottish Energy Laboratory (SEL) – a virtual hub that allows companies to discover Scotland’s key research, development and demonstration facilities  
• International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ) - Glasgow's ITREZ aims to provide an energy hub promoting collaboration between developers, suppliers, academics, researchers and support organisations
• Energetica - a planned global energy hub running between Aberdeen and Peterhead, offering the world's greatest concentration of energy technology companies, housing and leisure facilities