Scotland could ‘lose’ position as tidal powerhouse

Renewables: Brexit poses risk to sector – claim

Brexit could see Scotland’s emerging tidal-power industry fail to cash in on the commercial potential of its “world-leading” technologies, the Scottish Energy Minister warned yesterday.

Speaking in Inverness, Paul Wheelhouse said that without continuing access to European Union funding to help make devices invested and tested here commercially viable, other countries such as Canada could reap the benefits.

The minister added the industry had been “holed below the water line” by the UK Government and the decision to quit the EU.

He said: “We risk losing an industry that Scotland is leading the way with if we are not able to access funding. We risk losing the market lead we currently have in the way we did with onshore wind.”

Mr Wheelhouse’s comments follow his recent call for the UK Government to clarify its commitment to renewables and include “sector deals” for wind and marine-energy in its industrial strategy.

Despite his warning, he said he did not want to “fear-monger” for the future of Scotland’s tidal generation sector, which has recently achieved a number of important milestones in its development.

He was speaking after giving the keynote address at this year’s Scottish Highland Renewable Energy Conference in Inverness.

The minister urged delegates at the event, organised by law firm Harper Macleod, to make their voices heard in the current consultation on the Scottish Government’s draft energy strategy, which closes at the end of May.

Mr Wheelhouse said: “The low carbon and renewable-energy sector in Scotland already supported 58,500 jobs by 2015, turning over £10.5billion.

“Greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland had, by 2014, reduced by 45.8% since 1990, helping us to achieve our 2020 climate target, six years early.

“The Highlands and islands is an acknowledged powerhouse of renewableenergy research and development, such as at Emec (European Marine Energy Centre) in Orkney, and has recognised potential for jobs growth associated with the renewables supply chain, including manufacturing, installation and in operations and maintenance.”