ASSESSMENT OF MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDER REQUIREMENTS IN NORTH SCOTLAND

This paper describes two marine renewable energy stakeholder workshops in North Scotland that were held in March 2009 to discuss industry requirements for developing the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters between Scotland's north coast and the northern isles. This is an area of considerable interest for the development of renewable energy in Scotland. If the area is developed (mainly with wave and tidal power) it could make a significant contribution to both meeting government renewable energy targets and to the local economy. However, following accelerated applications by developers for site leasing, development of the area was delayed by uncertainty in environmental data shortages and subsequent slow progress in government formulation of marine spatial planning policy. In order to proceed, the marine renewable energy industry in Scotland required timely investment in regional infrastructure and a clear policy direction from government. Energy industry stakeholders who attended the workshops called for a single authority to take responsibility for both regulation and direct investment from government so that national renewable energy targets could be met in the required timeframe. Ultimately, government and policy makers were expected by industry to take responsibility for this with a central authority to decide and importantly communicate where and when marine turbines could be built. This required by government a proper understanding of the resources and not just the constraints in identifying the most suitable areas. Local knowledge in the community offered to dispel some of the uncertainty regarding the physical environment in a way that could also guide policy and perhaps accelerate marine spatial planning in designating workable areas for wave and tidal power.