More jobs from offshore renewable projects could ’transform’ the economy of costal communities, according to two new reports.
The Crown Estate’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult survey and Scottish Power’s BiGGAR Economics study looked into the attitudes around tidal, wave and wind power.
Both found that people were extremely positive, and the BiGGAR study specifically found that Scottish Power’s new MachairWind development will be a significant positive for communities in Argyll and Bute.
MachairWind is Scottish Power’s first offshore windfarm in the country and will generate enough electricity to power 2,000,000 homes annually.
The new offshore windfarm off the coast of Islay could create ’transformational’ opportunities to address skills gaps, support sustainability efforts, enhance community wellbeing and stimulate growth in economically-disadvantaged areas.
The study looked at eight locations – based on geographical proximity to MachairWind – which could be considered for the project. These included Campbeltown, Machrihanish, Arnish on Raasay, Islay, and Oban.
They were identified as ideal locations to establish a potential operations and maintenance base and construction ports for the wind farm.
The operations and maintenance base would develop a considerable amount of jobs lasting well beyond the jobs created by the farm’s construction.
Meanwhile, the Crown Estate’s survey found that there was a significant appetite for development of both tidal energy and wave energy in Scotland, creating potentially even more construction and maintenance jobs.
Each sector is increasingly focused on differentiating their market positions and the estate is to reflect their differing priorities and challenges.
There are significant obstacles to the development of wave and tidal energies that still need to be addressed, but the Crown Estate assure they are doing all they can to help developers break through their barriers.
A spokesperson said: "Once these projects begin to be built, even more jobs like the ones at MachairWind will be created.
"Projects and studies such as this don’t only help solve job shortages, but directly help Scotland towards its net-zero targets.
"Positivity around renewable technologies spells good news for the potential success of net-zero within the next few decades."
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