Chamber and committees

Offshore wind development and operation provides a strong route for a Just Transition, helping high carbon sectors and staff transition into low carbon activity. The forthcoming pipeline of ScotWind projects has the potential to transform the energy sector and economy in Scotland, including the potential to diversify our existing industries and generate thousands of new jobs. We therefore welcome the public commitment made by developers who have been awarded lease options to invest a combined £25bn in the Scottish supply chain via ScotWind projects, and their aspiration to invest a further £10bn as indicated in their ‘high ambition’ statements. We need to make the most of, and focus on, the opportunities from this investment and for diversification and skills transfer from oil and gas to drive forward offshore wind skills development. The knowledge and experience of the oil and gas sector, and its supply chain, will be a differentiator for Scotland in developing floating offshore wind technologies, in line with our commitment to a just transition.

In addition, the introduction of Supply Chain Development Statements by Crown Estate Scotland will help to release wide ranging economic benefits across Scotland. We expect the successful ScotWind projects to be fully engaging with the domestic supply chain and to work in collaboration with the public sector and with communities to ensure their commitments come to fruition.