The First Minister has welcomed Stage 2 of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP), published by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
The plan outlines the investment required to deliver Scotland’s ambition to become a premier location for the manufacturing and deployment of wind turbine and marine energy devices.
The report states that a total private and public investment of £223m would assist the creation of 11 offshore wind manufacturing sites in three regional clusters.
Taken together these sites could support the creation of up to 5180 jobs and an annual economic impact of up to £294.5m each year.
It also underlines the case for the £185m Fossil Fuel Levy to be released by the Treasury to accelerate the promotion and development of renewable energy in Scotland.
The sites identified in Stage 1 of the N-RIP, published in February, are: Leith, Dundee, Nigg, Energy Park at Methil, Hunterston, Aberdeen, Arnish, Campbeltown/Machrihanish, Ardersier, Kishorn and Peterhead.
The latest report recommends that the marine renewable energy sites are developed into three regional manufacturing clusters that would support the fabrication of offshore wind components and tap into the wealth of subsea expertise that already exists in Scotland.
First Minister Alex Salmond says: “Scotland has the natural resources, expertise and ambition to become a global powerhouse for clean, green energy. The National Renewables Infrastructure Plan outlines the steps required to realise our ambition and to establish Scotland as a premier destination for the manufacture and installation of offshore renewable energy devices.
“This plan focuses on the sites that could provide investors with the high-quality infrastructure required for success in the rapidly growing green energy industry.”
He adds: “This infrastructure plan demonstrates the huge economic rewards of strengthening our offshore and marine energy industries and marks another positive step towards creating a low carbon, sustainable Scotland.”