ScottishPower Renewables’ Post

We’re delighted to attend and exhibit at this year’s Floating Offshore Wind Conference in Aberdeen, where the future of renewable energy takes centre-stage once again. Ports and harbours will be the backbone of offshore wind development in Scotland and it’s important for us to highlight the critical role programmes like Orkney Future Ports will play in delivering ambitious renewable energy targets to achieve net zero. With that, we are heartened to hear First Minister, John Swinney reaffirm policy certainty and his commitment to invest £500 million worth of funding into developing the infrastructure needed to deliver offshore wind. Additionally, we welcome his invitation to collaborate more closely with government to unlock private investment and realise our aspirations. However, whilst the First Minister’s comments are welcomed, much more tangible support and investment must be fast-tracked towards ports and harbours if we are to succeed. Without this, Scotland's renewable ambitions risk falling short, if not failing altogether. Let’s work together to ensure that the foundation for our renewable future is as strong as the wind that powers it. #NetZero #RenewableEnergy #OffshoreWind #Ports #Sustainability #ScotlandGreenEnergy #OrkneyFuturePorts #FloatingWind24

🤝 | Today, Fraser Gibson from Ryder Geotechnical will be attending the upcoming Energi Coast event focused on North East England's Offshore Wind Cluster. 🌬️ As the UK's leading offshore wind cluster, Energi Coast has been at the forefront of discussions surrounding the future of deepwater offshore wind developments. Fraser's presence at this event underscores Ryder's commitment to exploring innovative solutions in this rapidly evolving industry. 🌊 | With insights gleaned from the Energi Coast Supply Chain Mapping project, this reception promises to shed light on the region's strategic advantages and its potential to become a powerhouse in both fixed bottom and floating offshore wind projects. Fraser's participation will contribute to vital discussions around the support mechanisms necessary to sustain and enhance our regional success in the global offshore wind market. Fraser will join other industry leaders and MPs to delve into crucial topics including skills development, infrastructure investment, project pipelines, and creating an environment conducive to continued growth and investment. #OffshoreWind #RenewableEnergy #EnergiCoast #NorthEastEngland #Ryder #IndustryLeadership

Massachusetts and Rhode Island recently announced the outcomes of their inaugural multi-state offshore wind auction, awarding nearly 2.9 GW of capacity. This significant move marks a crucial step in the expansion of clean energy in the United States, showcasing a commitment to sustainable energy sources and regional cooperation in tackling climate change. The link to the full article can be found here: [Offshore Wind Biz](https://lnkd.in/eXJrCWzp). In our industry experience, it is clear that collaborative efforts like these not only accelerate the transition to renewable energy but also foster economic growth by creating jobs and stimulating technological advancements. Such initiatives enhance energy security while demonstrating a shift towards cleaner alternatives in the US energy landscape. The recent auction exemplifies how states can work together, leveraging their unique strengths to achieve common goals in the fight against climate change. What are your thoughts on this collaborative approach in offshore wind? 🌊💡 As more states embark on similar paths, we must consider the long-term benefits of cooperation in building a sustainable energy future. Let us share insights and experiences on how we can further drive the offshore wind industry forward! 💬 #OffshoreWind #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #Massachusetts #RhodeIsland #Collaboration #ClimateChange #RenewableEnergy

𝗢𝗳𝗳𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 Ørsted, the world's largest offshore wind developer, is adapting its growth strategy due to rising costs, project delays, and a recent setback in the UK market. This includes revising its wind power generation targets to align with the current financial landscape and streamlining operations through workforce reductions. While requiring difficult adjustments, this move demonstrates the dynamic nature of the clean energy transition and the need for ongoing agility to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities. What do you think are the biggest hurdles to overcome in the offshore wind industry? Share your thoughts below. 🤔 #offshorewind #renewableenergy #climatechange #sustainability #orsted #greentransition #marketchallenges #innovation

Why does Scotland stand out as the next powerhouse for renewable energy? Yesterday, at The Labour Party Conference, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that "the future of British energy will be powered, as it has been for decades by the talent and skills of the working people in the Granite City with GB Energy based in Aberdeen."   Aberdeen is home to much of the UK’s oil and gas and offshore wind industries. And the announcement of two additional GB Energy sites set to open in Edinburgh and Glasgow, highlights the significant role Scotland continues to play in the UK's ambitions to transition to Net Zero. The new UK government-backed energy company will invest in wind and solar projects, as well as newer technologies including floating offshore windfarms, hydrogen, carbon capture and energy storage, according to the BBC. With its abundant natural resources and forward-thinking climate policies, Scotland has set ambitious climate goals of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and Net Zero by 2045. As the GB Energy Bill continues to be tabled in parliament, the public owned company could play a part like no other to bring together innovative companies, greener technology, and significant investment to drive job creation and sustainable industry growth not only for the region, but across the UK. 🔗 Check out the link in comments to the Reuters article covering Sir Keir Starmer's keynote speech yesterday. [Photo by Andy Fotheringham] #Scotland #EnergyTransition #NetZero

Some reflections on last week’s Energy Professionals event expertly facilitated by Eversheds Sutherland Energy and supported by Gerald Eve. First of all, good to see two senior women on the panel in the shape of Gwenllian Elias of BlueFloat Energy | Renantis Partnership and Eleri Davies of RWE. A reflection of the growing numbers of women in the renewables sector with long term industry experience and some significant successes under their belts. Always a pleasure to listen to John Howells of Gerald Eve. I thoroughly enjoyed the historic overview he gave of Wales’s energy industry at Wales Week London last year; he always brings a fresh perspective to the discussion. Here’s what I took away: ·      The local opportunities from floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea could be significant, but port investment, skills and supply chain planning are needed.  ·      Investors need a stable and predictable policy environment. The ‘missed opportunities’ are hard to forgive – no British turbine manufacturer, recent CfD round (in which no developers put forward bids) ‘a failure of policy’. ·      Onshore wind is on the critical path to net zero. It’s the most established, the cheapest, and quickest technology to deploy. By consenting onshore wind projects now, industry can build the skills and supply chain needed to enable FLOW further down the line. ·      Wales is a village, and developers need to collaborate, especially on social value. ·      Infrastructure, some of it big, unappealing to the eye, and not what we are used to, is going to have to happen to meet net zero. There is no way of sugar-coating this. On the critical question of whether Wales could meet its target of 100% electricity consumption from renewables by 2035, the panel were not altogether optimistic. Grid, the slow pace of onshore consents, lack of policy resource (and sometimes an ‘inconsistent’ policy approach), and a lukewarm (putting it mildly) local community, means that developing projects in Wales is just plain hard. #FLOW #renewables #onshorewind #CelticSea #netzero #energytransition #grid

Offshore wind energy is a game-changer for meeting our growing #energy needs and slashing #carbonemissions. Among the benefits, OWE offers a renewable, clean alternative to fossil fuels helping combat #climatechange; fosters #innovation, driving both #environmental and economic progress; and contribute to #energysecurity and stability. The Australian federal #government just kicked off consultations on the Bunbury offshore wind zone, which is the final development zone in Australia – first for Western Australia. This zone could be a game-changer, hosting a whopping 20 GW of #offshorewind projects. It's a big deal for our state, especially as we're craving more clean, green energy to keep up with our growing needs and decarbonization targets. Stantec stands as a #globalleader in offshore energy generation, boasting a team that excels in addressing every facet of the offshore wind lifecycle. My team in Perth take immense pride in being a part of this growing field and looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with our clients in #WesternAustralia. Let's make waves! 🌊 #offshorewindfarm #offshorewindenergy Kai Krueger Jemima Dimbleby Glenn Shiell Peter Tapsell Damien Demunck

Another election is around the corner, this time in Ireland. We will be out and about speaking about our priorities for the next government which you can read about 👇🏻 below. #Ireland #Climatetargets #Acceleratingnetzero

Equinor breaks ground on the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, transforming it into a major offshore wind hub. This project includes the Empire Wind 1, set to generate 810 MW, powering 500,000 homes. The development also aims to create 1,000 union jobs and significantly reduce NYC's carbon emissions. This milestone represents a major step towards achieving the city’s climate goals and enhancing renewable energy infrastructure on the East Coast. https://lnkd.in/gUiNHBj7 #EVNews #EV #Equinor #OffshoreWind #RenewableEnergy #EmpireWind1 #NYC #CleanEnergy #WindPower #SustainableFuture #GreenEnergy #ClimateAction #SouthBrooklynMarineTerminal #EnergyTransition #SolarPower #EVCharging #UnionJobs #CarbonNeutral #EastCoastWind #WindFarm #EnergyInnovation #NYClimateGoals

I recently attended the Scottish Renewables #onshorewind conference in Edinburgh. Fascinating discussions and a palpable sense of excitement about the prospects of this maturing technology. A few snippets to share: 👉2024 seen as a major year for onshore wind. The lifting of the ban in England; the creation of the #onshorewindindustrytaskforce; and wind (onshore and offshore) in the UK now accounting for more than 30GW of installed capacity. 👉Scotland is very much the leader in onshore wind, with many lessons to share with other nations in the UK and an ambitious target of 20GW by 2030. 👉Speakers acknowledged the need to engage community stakeholders and the trade-offs to allow onshore wind to be deployed. Demonstrating the socio-economic benefits of projects for communities are important. 👉"Grid, grid, grid" - the importance of #grid to enable wind was a major topic. Connection queues highlighted – examples of up to 10 years wait. Some developers complained about 200% increases in connection costs. 👉Planning highlighted as problematic. There are simply not enough people to allow for planning to go ahead. The recent Viking project took four years to construct and 16 years of consenting. 👉AR6 also took place recently. Some of you will remember last year AR5 was conspicuous for the absence of offshore wind bids. More positive outcome this year but doubts remain as to whether the UK can meet its ambitious clean power targets. #decarbonisation #energytransition #offshorewind