The UK Government has been urged to scrap its decision on treating remote island wind projects the same as mainland onshore wind.

A consultation on the subject by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy came to a close on Tuesday, 31 January.

However, the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) suggests that by changing the status of remote island wind projects, up to £1.3 billion could be invested in the remote isles, boosting Scotland's economies by up to £725 million over 25 years.

CECA Scotland Chief Executive Alan Watt said the organisation estimates there is over £300m worth of civil engineering per annum in the Scottish renewable sector alone.


"This represents over 10% of the total Scottish civil engineering workload, in a sector directly employing over 3,000 people – particularly in remote and economically sensitive areas – and many more in the supply chain," he said.

"In our view, the development of non-mainland onshore wind, will not only play a key role in growing the economy in these uncertain times, but will also help build and maintain thriving communities as a direct result of a local, natural and non-polluting resource."

CECA Head of External Affairs, Marie-Claude Hemming, added: "The remote islands are a fantastic wind resource and are ideally placed to generate a reliable source of renewable electricity.

"We understand that support for development of wind farms is high within local communities given the economic benefits that they will bring.

"The development of onshore wind on the remote islands would send a strong message to our industry on the Government's commitment to investment outside the South-East of England, help secure long-term economic growth across the UK, and help meet our rapidly approaching carbon targets."

(LM/JP)