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An action plan to drive the development of renewable energy and capitalise on Scotland's natural resources to derive maximum economic benefit has been published.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said that developing the right renewables infrastructure and boosting skills will help Scotland to meet its climate change targets.
The Renewables Action Plan identifies collective actions by government, its agencies and partners, to ensure at least a fifth of Scotland's energy comes from renewables by 2020. The Plan will kickstart a renewable heat industry to massively increase take up, identify necessary infrastructure projects and options to deliver them and get the skills mix right to maximise potential and attract investment.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said: "Moving to a low carbon economy presents huge economic opportunities and our Climate Change Bill now commits us to action.
"Offshore wind, marine energy and renewable heat will now be a key focus due to the potential to generate clean energy, reduce emissions and the associated manufacturing and infrastructure opportunities. Scottish Enterprise and HIE will develop a clear framework for port and land infrastructure to support the manufacturing, construction, and operation of offshore wind, wave and tidal devices."
The Cabinet Secretary said heat from renewables needs to rise tenfold in the next decade and we will investigate all options to boost the sector, from large scale industrial plants, more energy from biomass and waste, through to microgeneration.
"The Plan requires long term collaboration, and that process begins now. The pace of change demands a constantly evolving framework and the Plan will be updated and refreshed every six months to take account of the latest developments. That is the way we will stimulate a leading renewables industry and play our part in tackling climate change," he said.
The Strategic Environmental Assessment on the Renewables Action Plan is open to consultation.
(GK/JM)
