Why Wind Energy?
Renewable energy is good for Scotland for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is an environmentally responsible way of meeting our energy needs: generating power without producing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. The project alone has the potential to generate up to 450MW of renewable energy, which is enough power to supply over 325,000 Scottish homes - or more than the whole of Edinburgh. It will offset over 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, as well as making a significant contribution towards the delivery of the UK's share of the European Union target of 20% renewable energy by 2020.
Equally important though, Scotland can create skilled, lasting employment from renewable energy. Jobs are being created in development, manufacturing, as well as the export of expertise, energy and equipment to the rest of the UK and further afield. We place local procurement at the heart of our development strategy and as such we are actively working with the Scottish government, local suppliers, potential manufacturers and other parties to maximise the economic benefit to the North East of Scotland, and to help position the region to benefit from longer term UK and international opportunities
The UK has potentially the largest offshore wind resource in the world, with relatively shallow waters and a strong wind resource extending far into the North Sea. The UK has been estimated to have over 33% of the total European potential offshore wind resource - enough to power the country nearly three times over.
There is a perception that increasing the deployment of renewable generation in the Scotland will increase the price of electricity for Scottish consumers. However, the reality is the reverse: adding significant amounts of wind capacity to a country's generation portfolio leads to lower overall generation costs, and to lower bills, while increasing energy security. Read more about this.