Energy Voice: ScotWind Spotlight

November 30, 2021
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Date(s) - November 30, 2021
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

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Wind sits at the centre of any credible plan to build a net zero economy by 2050. The technology for large-scale offshore wind is proven. Moreover, it has become one of the cheapest forms of electricity, with costs falling by two thirds in the last five years.

UK wind generation capacity is 10.4GW, and is targeted to reach 40GW by 2030, and over 100GW by 2050. The anticipated impact is impressive: by 2030 it is hoped UK offshore wind will support 60,000 jobs, and attract around £20bn of private investment.

Globally, the offshore wind pipeline stands at 413GW, with China scheduled to deliver 64.4GW, ahead of the UK’s 63.2GW, with 40.5GW slated in the US. To build an energy system fit for 1.5C even more will be required.

Significant barriers remain, however, including legislative hurdles, and technical factors like grid structures, planning regimes and environmental considerations. And perhaps the biggest challenge is ensuring major wind developments deliver the promised benefits for local supply chains and communities.

With this background, Energy Voice is launching its latest Tracking Transition series. Across four virtual events we will assess the wind sector’s development to date, and investigate what needs to happen to maximise its potential.

Session 1: ScotWind Spotlight, will be held on the 30th November. The first ScotWind round has the potential to yield 10GW of generating capacity, and has seen unprecedented interest with 74 applications received.

Together with our Principal Partners Orsted & ABB, and an expert panel we will explore:

  • Bid round mechanics: what’s working well, what could be improved.
  • Comparison between the UK and Scottish systems.
  • Bridging the gap between bids and developments.
  • What ScotWind means for the UK supply chain and workforce.
  • Future ScotWind rounds.
  • ScotWind as a model for future UK and international bid rounds.

Subsequent sessions will provide a comprehensive review of the global wind sector, and are scheduled for March (UK State of Play), June (The Global Picture) and September (Where Next?).

Register here to attend.

Get in touch

AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

Contact Us
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AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables
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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
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The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy
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Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall
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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise