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Ministerial Foreword
Since day one this Government has made clear that our overarching purpose is sustainable economic growth. With climate change and the economy ever more prominent as two of the dominant themes in the international political debate, the commitment we made in 2007 to pursue sustainable economic growth for Scotland is of more relevance than ever - and has now been backed up by our world-leading Climate Change legislation.
Energy has long been part of Scotland's story, and Renewable Energy represents one of our most powerful areas of competitive advantage. The dawn of the boom years of North Sea oil and gas are now being replicated three decades on, as a unique partnership between public and private sectors emerges to exploit not fossil fuels but the power of our wind and our seas. These hold some of the most concentrated potential not only across the UK and Europe, but in the world, with an estimated 25% of Europe's offshore wind and tidal potential and 10% of wave potential. The benefits for Scotland in exploiting this resource are very significant, and very tangible. Jobs are being created, in sectors as diverse but thoroughly interlinked as engineering and environmental assessment. Exportable technology is being developed and tested, ranging from fuel cells and the hydrogen sector, to marine energy and off-shore wind. Direct financial benefit is flowing into our communities from the generation and sale of renewable electricity. And at the same time, with nearly 6 Gigawatts of renewable energy now either installed or in the pipeline, we are well on our way to meeting our baseline target of 50% of electricity demand from renewables by 2020.
Since the installation of the first Scottish hydro-electric plants in the post war years, much has been achieved. With highly stretching, but, we are convinced, eminently achievable targets out to 2020 and beyond, much remains to be done. As our track record over the past two years demonstrates, we are committed to the task. Since coming to power in 2007, Ministers have consented no less than 22 major renewables projects, with a 9 month target turnaround time for new applications. We recently switched on Europe's largest operating on-shore windfarm, and have already consented a project which will exceed even that one in capacity. Construction work finished in 2008 on the largest new Scottish hydro plant in 40 years, just a few months before we launched the £10 million Saltire Prize for marine renewables - one of the largest innovation prizes anywhere in the world - which has already attracted over 100 registrations of interest from 24 countries across the globe.
However we have no intention of resting on our laurels. In February the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth launched our ten energy pledges, the blueprint to create thousands of green energy jobs. The first of these was a commitment to support and accelerate the implementation of renewable energy through the Renewables Action Plan, which it is my great pleasure to now introduce.
As with our Economic Recovery Programme, the Renewables Action Plan is more than a set of measures to cope with short-term challenges.
Not only does it mark the way towards 2020 and beyond, to our 2050 targets for carbon emissions reduction, but it embodies the collaborative approach that will be needed to meet them. The Plan highlights milestones along the way, identifies the necessary key actions, and specifies the required stakeholder contributions. It does not contain all the answers, for the pace of change demands a constantly-evolving framework of action, undertaken collectively by the Scottish Government, public bodies, local government and other partners, in concert with the private sector and international interests. At its simplest, the plan seeks to drive low carbon energy production, in a way which capitalises on Scotland's unique resources, and delivers maximum benefit to her people and her economy.
That process begins now - and I look forward to working with you on its implementation.
Jim Mather MSP
Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
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