Scottish Renewable Energy Report Highlights Importance of EOWDC

The partners behind the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) today welcomed the report on the achievability of the Scottish Government’s renewable energy targets.

The report makes the following references to the EOWDC:

39. The Committee is strongly of the view that grid-connected test facilities, such as the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney and the proposed European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre at Aberdeen Bay, are critical in placing Scotland at the forefront of the development of newer technologies and in proving the case for investment and in driving down costs. Such demonstration centres are, in our view, a vital component in Scotland’s industrial infrastructure.

129. The Committee is strongly of the view that grid-connected test facilities, such as the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney and the proposed European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) at Aberdeen Bay, are critical in placing Scotland at the forefront of the development of newer technologies and in proving the case for investment and in driving down costs.

229. The Committee believes that test facilities such as the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and the proposed European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) provide an important draw for companies wishing to develop and test devices and will be critical in securing Scotland’s edge in the newer offshore wind, marine and tidal technologies.

EOWDC project spokesman Iain Todd said: “This is yet another report which underlines the urgent requirement for projects like the EOWDC and their strategic importance in supporting the security of our national energy supply. As a world centre of innovation, the more than £230million EOWDC would play a pivotal role in accelerating the development of an efficient, cost effective and technologically-advanced offshore wind industry and contribute to an estimated £45billion in cost reduction.

“With cities like Bremerhaven in Germany and Esbjerg in Denmark already prospering from this fast-growing and globally-competitive industry, Scotland must harness projects like the EOWDC to ensure its position as a world leader in offshore wind. It is also a huge opportunity for Aberdeen City and Shire to diversify its energy-based economy with the EOWDC expected to act as magnet for jobs and inward investment, particularly in manufacturing.”

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Press release, November 23, 2012; Image: eastcoastrenewables