The Scottish Government has awarded £2.2m to a project which aims to reduce the cost of offshore wind by at least 10%.

The Carbon Trust's Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) programme – which is a joint industry and government scheme – brings together nine offshore wind developers, with more than 72% of the UK's licensed capacity. The programme aims to deliver a 10% reduction in time for offshore wind developments in Scottish waters, with the partners working together to identify technological challenges as well as to prioritise those with the most significant savings potential and develop innovative solutions.

It is understood the OWA will receive £200,000 in 2014/15 and the remaining £2m in 2015/16.

The money will be used to:

• Encourage international collaboration between the world's leading offshore wind developers to address cost reduction challenges in Scottish waters

-- Advertisement --

• Share knowledge on foundations and installations, operations and maintenance, the best wind farm layouts, electrical systems and cable installation

• Support the commercialisation of floating offshore wind turbines for Scottish waters.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Scotland is admired around the world for our work in renewable energy and in 2013 we set a new record for renewables generation, emphasising our commitment. That progress has accelerated into 2014 with new record levels of renewables generation in the first months of this year – up 56% over the year to the first quarter of 2014.

"The Scottish Government's target is to generate the equivalent of 100% of Scotland's gross annual electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020, as part of a wider, balanced, energy mix, and we are already nearly half way there.

"Renewable energy is extremely valuable to Scotland’s economy, to reducing our carbon emissions and in providing low carbon energy supplies as well as jobs and long term investment."

Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust added: "We are delighted to be working with the Scottish Government to drive further cost reductions in the offshore wind industry. The sector has huge potential to generate low carbon power and create economic value.

"Key to that success will be driving costs down through innovation and doing this quickly. The OWA and this new injection of funding will be key to help meet this cost reduction challenge."

(JP/IT)