Exclusive:Warning Scottish floating wind projects could be 'delayed or cancelled' under energy plan pressure
The UK Labour government is under pressure to ensure floating offshore wind plans are not derailed by an upcoming flagship energy plan
Union bosses have warned Andy Burnham’s energy secretary to ensure her flagship energy strategy does not lead to Scotland’s offshore floating wind projects being "delayed, reduced or cancelled” amid fears over green jobs.
The GMB union has penned a letter to Miatta Fahnbulleh warning that a failure to prioritise Scotland’s floating offshore wind industry in her strategic spatial energy plan (SSEP) “risks reduced confidence in the Scottish pipeline, risking fewer contracts and jobs”.
The appeal comes after Scotland’s floating offshore wind sector has faced a series of setbacks. The Scotsman revealed that a series of the SNP government’s flagship projects, tied to decarbonising oil and gas infrastructure, have stalled - while the UK government blocked Chinese turbine producer, Ming Yang, which specialises in floating wind, from opening a factory in the Scottish Highlands over security fears.
Ms Fahnbulleh’s SSEP, drawn up with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) will map potential energy production, storage and grid requirements over the coming decades.
READ MORE: Flagship North Sea floating wind projects stall as SNP warned not to 'squander' renewables potential
The document is seen as crucial in encouraging investment in technologies such as floating wind.
In a letter sent to Ms Fahnbulleh, seen by The Scotsman, GMB Scotland secretary, Louise Gilmour, has pointed to speculation “ScotWind projects, particularly floating offshore wind, may be risked by some options being considered” in the plan.
She added: “If the SSEP undermines confidence in ScotWind, the industry’s potential to create jobs will dwindle further.
“Getting SSEP right for Scotland will not guarantee new jobs but getting it wrong may sabotage even the hope of them.”
The GMB chief has warned the choices made in the plan “should not be founded simply on cost or convenience”, warning that they “must also be shaped by consideration of Scotland’s particular exposure during what has so far been a largely jobless transition to green energy”.
READ MORE: Swinney calls on Burnham to review Ming Yang's controversial wind factory plans blocked by Labour
Ms Gilmour added: “The creation of jobs, protection of skills and strengthening of supply chains in Scotland must be fully considered before any decision is taken.
“If ScotWind, particularly floating offshore wind, is not prioritised, projects may be delayed, reduced or cancelled.
“That risks reduced confidence in the Scottish pipeline, risking fewer contracts and jobs.”
SNP energy minister, Stephen Gethins, said: “The UK government must ensure the upcoming Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) fully reflects Scotland's established offshore wind pipeline so that Scotland meets its full renewables potential and continues to deliver jobs and investment across the country.
“A final SSEP pathway that does anything less would risk undermining investor confidence in the offshore wind sector and in the wider UK market.
“What we need now is a UK government willing to back the sector to secure jobs, investment, energy security and economic growth that can benefit communities for generations to come in the same way as the Scottish Government has done within our limited powers on energy.”
A UK government spokesperson said: “Floating offshore wind is key to harnessing more of our natural clean energy resources.
“We are working with the National Energy System Operator on delivering the strategic spatial energy plan, which will set out a strategy for how new infrastructure should be spread across the country and create growth in every postcode.”
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