Scottish Renewables' has issued a response to SSE's announcement that it is to significantly narrow the focus of its near team development plans for its offshore wind development portfolio.

Earlier this week, the energy supplier said it was planning to freeze its domestic gas and electricity prices until 2016, but it would "streamline" its business to cover the shortfall.

Around 500 jobs are said to be cut while four planned offshore wind farm developments are to be shelved. In a statement, SSE said it hoped to make annual operational cost savings of £100m.

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Lindsay Leask, Senior Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, said: "These decisions reinforce the uncertainty which developers have about the future of the offshore wind sector, and reinforce that continued, strong support from both the Scottish and UK Governments is absolutely critical to the future of the industry.

"In turn, the sector needs to continue to work hard to deliver cost reductions which will further prove that offshore wind is an economic alternative to other forms of generation.

"However, we should not forget that we continue to have plans for five major offshore wind farms off Scotland's east coast, which could provide a significant economic boost to Scotland and businesses across the country, as well as making a massive contribution to cutting carbon emissions."

(JP)