Question reference: S6W-16167
- Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 23 March 2023
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 March 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) decarbonisation seabed leasing round, and what the next steps are for INTOG.
Answer
Crown Estate Scotland will announce today (24 March 2022) the outcomes their evaluation of applications to the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas decarbonisation (INTOG) offshore wind leasing round.
In total 13 projects were successful and will be offered exclusive development rights over areas of seabed in Spring 2023.
Five new innovative wind projects (with a potential generation capacity of 449MW) were successful, providing opportunities for the new growth sector of hydrogen production, novel commercial solutions and stimulation of the supply chain.
To support secure energy supplies and the decarbonisation of fossil fuel production and extraction in Scottish waters, eight projects (totalling 4.96GW) providing green electricity directly to oil and gas platforms were also successful.
A full sustainability appraisal to support the INTOG planning process is underway and a public consultation later in 2023 will be carried out by Scottish Government, on a draft Sectoral Marine Plan. INTOG projects in the final adopted plan will be offered full Option Agreements by Crown Estate Scotland in 2024 and the consenting process can then proceed.