Green energy has the power to transform rural life – minister

The fortunes of Scotland’s remote and rural communities could be boosted by emerging offshore wind and marine energy plans, experts have said.

Key players from the UK and Europe outlined the vast economic potential to delegates at a seminar at the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban.

Energy minister Fergus Ewing told the seminar, hosted by Argyll and Bute Council, that Scotland was on the verge of “unparalleled opportunities” in renewable energy.

“The potential of the west coast is enormous. The potential that we have heard today would potentially transform rural and island life for the better,” he said.

“We have a lot of money available, the opportunities in our islands and rural communities are massive.”

Dick Walsh, Chairman of Argyll and Bute Council, said the Scottish Government’s ambitious renewable energy targets for 2020 were welcomed by the area, which is already a pioneer in the world of wind and wave energy.

The council is preparing a detailed business case with the aim of establishing Oban as a west coast base to service the offshore renewables industry.

Mr Walsh said there were real opportunities to promote the economy and quality of life for remote and island communities.

On Mull, Inverlussa Marine Services is hoping to grasp some of the opportunities by investing in a £2 million state-of-the-art workboat, designed to service the renewable energy market. Ben Wilson, a director, believes the renewables sector has a lot to offer far-flung communities.

The main challenge, to allow more people in remote communities to benefit from the opportunities, lies in addressing a skills shortage, according to the energy minister.

Mr Ewing said: “Scotland has the highest potential for offshore wind in Europe – £7,000m will be invested in the grid in Scotland.

“The real challenge, I think, for Scotland will be not money, but the skills shortage.”

Mr Ewing said the influx of business associated with large-scale projects could transform the island’s fortunes.

Andrew Jamieson, regulation and markets director of ScottishPower Renewables, has been investigating the possibilities of the Argyll Array project.

Mr Jamieson, the chair of UK Renewables, said ScottishPower hoped to lodge a planning application next year. Although the company might have to source turbines “globally” if the project went ahead, it hoped Tiree would reap the benefits of supplying the workforce.

He said: “We would like to see the island prosper, we would like the skills to come from the island – maybe they could get training here in Oban, in Glasgow or somewhere else – but we hope they would came back to the region.”

Jean-Didier Hache, executive secretary of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions who flew in from France for the seminar, said Argyll and Bute was one of the most promising areas for renewable projects.

Robert Pollock, head of economic development for Argyll and Bute Council, said the infrastructure, skills and local, national and European funding requirements needed to unlock the potential for rural communities must be determined.