THE Scottish Government has agreed a deal which it said could position Scotland as a European hub for the recycling and repurposing of wind turbine blades.
The commitment to establish at least one specialist facility by 2030 forms part of the new onshore wind sector deal, signed at the Scottish Renewables Onshore Wind Conference in Edinburgh.
The deal sets out how the Scottish Government and industry will work together to harness the full potential of onshore wind to benefit communities, boost the economy, and reduce carbon emissions.
Describing disposing of decommissioned turbine blades as an ‘increasing’ challenge, the Scottish Government said that the sector’s commitment to open a treat plant, alongside its support, will provide an environmentally-friendly solution, create jobs, and place Scotland at the forefront of emerging global technology.
The deal also includes a Scottish Government aim to determine applications for larger new wind farms within a year when no public inquiry is required and two years with an inquiry. This would reduce the average determination time by 50% and will be achieved by streamlining processes while improving the format of applications, the Scottish Government said.
Further commitments will enhance training and resources while agreeing clear guidelines to ensure responsible development enabling positive outcomes for climate and nature.
Also in the deal is that the industry commits to creating apprenticeships, training opportunities and skilled jobs in Scotland for the lifetime of the deal; companies will engage with communities at the earliest possible opportunity to agree a community benefits package that meets or exceeds the Scottish Government’s good practice principles; partners will work together to produce co-ordinated and resourced plans for the transport by road of wind turbine components; and a commitment to support supply chains to reuse and refurbish parts to create a circular economy
Energy secretary Neil Gray said, “This deal is a practical example of government and industry working closely together to reinforce our shared commitment to reaching net zero. As we embrace the possibilities, we acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. Balancing the needs of energy production with proper environmental stewardship demands diligence and continuous innovation. This deal charts a course that safeguards our natural heritage while delivering clean, affordable energy to power our lives and industries.
“By benefiting communities we are ensuring the rewards of our onshore wind revolution are shared by all. This helps meet our programme for government commitments and create a green and growing economy with fairness at its heart.”
Scottish Renewables chief executive, Claire Mack, added, “Today is a huge moment for the onshore wind industry in Scotland. A world leader in renewable energy, Scotland has an ambition for onshore wind to have 20GW of onshore wind by 2030 and the Onshore Wind Sector Deal will play a key role in helping us to hit this target.
“An incredible amount of hard work has gone in to making this deal happen and it is a real benefit to the industry knowing that the time onshore wind farms take to go through planning will be halved to only 12 months. It is also encouraging to see onshore wind farm operators and the Scottish Government committed to creating a sustainable solution and a circular economy supply chain for the recycling of wind turbine component parts.
“We look forward to working closely with the Scottish Government to ensure the Onshore Wind Sector Deal is effectively implemented on the road to achieving Scotland’s net-zero ambitions.”
