‘Scots risk missing out on wind boom’

There are concerns the rest of the world could again reap the lion’s share of the benefits from Scotland’s renewables boom.

A senior trade union figure has said “no one should have optimism” the next generation of offshore wind farms in Scottish waters will deliver thousands of green jobs.

Crown Estate Scotland has published supply chain development statement (SCDS) outlooks for each of the 17 projects of the recent ScotWind leasing round.

Developers including Shell, SSE Renewables and ScottishPower Renewables, have made a host of pledges that, if delivered, will mean billions being spent in Scotland.

On average, each scheme will spend just shy of £1.5bn with the rest of the UK also in line for a significant windfall.

There are some developers that could end up spending more overseas than in the UK.

BP, TotalEnergies, Vattenfall, Deme Group and Northland Power have all committed to investing larger sums in Europe and the rest of the world.

To date the vast majority of work for the offshore wind farms operating off the coast of Scotland has gone overseas.

It is hoped ScotWind will deliver a step change in that regard, providing decades of work for the local supply chain.

GMB Scotland senior organiser Gary Cook said: “No one should have optimism that the next generation of Scotland’s renewables manufacturing story will be any different to the broken promises of the last decade.

“A scan of the successful ScotWind bidders and their plans shows familiar international players from the spaghetti bowl of renewables and marine construction firms that have profited handsomely from our bill-payer subsidised offshore wind industry, while exporting tens of thousands of green jobs to the rest of the world at the expense of Scottish working-class communities.

“It’s business as usual for our offshore wind sector, ‘Scotland for sale’ – and government ministers know it.”

Alix Thom, workforce engagement and skills manager at Offshore Energies UK, said: “The North Sea Transition Deal we signed with the UK Government last year sets a target of at least 50% local content and this year we’ll be publishing a roadmap which will give UK supply chain companies visibility of upcoming projects they can potentially benefit from.”