The Scottish offshore wind energy sector has received a £1.5 million investment boost from the Scottish Government.

Announcing the funding on Wednesday, Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said the investment will be made into the Carbon Trust's research, development, and demonstration programme; the Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA).

The OWA programme brings together nine of the largest offshore wind developers in Europe; DONG Energy, EnBW, E.ON, Iberdrola, innogy, SSE, Statkraft, Statoil and Vattenfall.

The £1.5m investment will be used to fund a range of projects to explore the potential benefits of offshore wind for Scotland. Funding will also go to projects designed to facilitate and encourage international collaboration and knowledge sharing between offshore wind developers, in order to tackle some industry-wide problems, and stimulate innovation in the sector.

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Speaking at Burntisland Fabrication's yard in Methil, Fife, Minister Wheelhouse said: "The Scottish Government's decision to invest a further £1.5 million into the OWA is a ringing endorsement of the great potential of this programme to help Scotland to utilise the full potential of offshore wind, and to ensure that we make it as affordable as possible.

"The Carbon Trust have done a fantastic job so far in reducing the costs of offshore wind, as well as encouraging collaboration across the public and private sectors to improve the industry as a whole.

"The potential benefits of offshore wind energy in Scotland are enormous, which is why the Scottish Government is committed to its development."

Jan Matthiesen, Director at the Carbon Trust, added: "The Scottish Government's £1.5 million investment into the programme, alongside investments by nine of the biggest developers in Europe, shows there is real confidence in the ability of the OWA to continue to deliver further cost reductions.

"This signals continuing support and investment into a programme that has helped to reduce the costs of offshore wind and helped to pave the way towards a subsidy free energy source."

(LM)