The Scottish Government has released its policy statement for 2022, which sets out its ambition to deploy 20GW of onshore wind by 2030.
The announcement follows the Scottish Government’s pledge last week that net zero would be a key priority of its upcoming Budget for 2023 to 2024.
In the Ministerial Foreword, Michael Matheson, cabinet secretary for net zero, energy & transport, stated that renewable solutions which require significant amounts of time to deliver results, such as nuclear fission, are not an “acceptable solution” for Scotland. Instead, as a cheap and reliable generator of renewable energy, onshore wind will be paramount to ensuring that Scotland meets its target of a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030.
At the Contract for Difference Allocation Round Four, onshore wind achieved the second lowest strike price across all technologies, at £42.47 per MWh – 45% lower than the sector achieved during Allocation Round One in 2015 – despite being excluded from the last two auction rounds.
Scotland currently has almost 9GW of operational onshore wind. To achieve the additional 11GW for its 2030 target the Scottish Government has announced that it will form an Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group (SLG).
The key deliverable of the SLG will be to develop a sector deal for onshore wind that will form solutions to deployment challenges, establish how to maximise benefits for Scotland and aid a just transition to renewable energy.
The SLG will consist of onshore wind industry leaders, Scottish Renewables, government ministers, relevant Scottish Government agencies and Supply Chain representatives, as well as a body representing local communities.
Matheson also praised the UK Government’s decision to relax its de facto ban on onshore wind but warned that it must be a lasting decision if onshore wind is to be deployed quickly and help Scotland achieve its 2030 goal.
