PROPERTY consultancy Bidwells’ Energy & Renewables have welcoming the deal struck between the Scottish Government and the onshore wind farm industry.
Ros Clifford is Head of Energy and Renewables at Bidwells, which is one of the UK’s largest property consultancies that is currently overseeing 4.2 GW of onshore wind projects and is responsible for managing the Crown Estate Scotland’s marine assets.
Ros commented:
“History has been made with the signing of the Sector Deal between the Onshore Wind Industry and the Scottish Government. Scotland is already leading the way in decarbonising electricity and has aspirational targets for a minimum of 20GW of onshore wind in Scotland by 2030. Making Scotland the number one place in the UK to invest in Onshore Wind.
Today’s announcement of the Onshore Wind Sector Deal for Scotland is critical for delivering those targets. The Sector Deal recognises that transformational change is needed to reach these ambitious goals including co-ordinated and resourced plans for turbine delivery routes, whilst not leaving stakeholders or communities behind.
The Deal will reinforce the relationship and enhance collaboration between the onshore wind industry and the Scottish Government with support being given to remove key barriers to success. On the surface of it, highlights of the Deal include reducing average timescales for determining planning applications by 50%, responsible development guidelines enabling positive outcomes for climate and nature, tackling supply chain and skill shortage issues facing the sector and moving to a circular economy.
The announcement of the Sector Deal has come at a pivotal moment from the Scottish Government, because Investors will be looking for confidence and policy certainty to counter the mixed messages and uncertainty created following the UK Government’s rowing back of measures to reach Net Zero yesterday.
