Onshore Wind Industry Prospectus launched

New research which shows a more ambitious onshore wind target for Scotland could produce £27.8 billion of economic activity while helping meet the country's net-zero target has been published today.

The Onshore Wind Industry Prospectus also contains new polling which shows Scots are in favour of new onshore wind development and reform of the planning system.

Responding, Morag Watson, Director of Policy of Scottish Renewables, said:

"The Onshore Wind Industry Prospectus published today shows the enormous benefits of increasing our ambition for Scotland’s outstanding wind resource and allowing onshore wind – one of the cheapest and most popular forms of energy generation – to take its rightful place at the heart of a net-zero energy mix.

“Doing so, this new research shows, would bring an additional £27.8 billion of economic activity to Scotland, helping the country recover from the coronavirus pandemic at the same time as meeting our ambitions for a low-carbon economy which benefits all parts of the country.

“It is also important to note the new polling contained in the Prospectus, which shows support for onshore wind remains consistently high in Scotland, in line with research carried out by both Scottish Renewables and the UK Government. That public support, which sits alongside cross-party backing at the Scottish Parliament, is hardly surprising given onshore wind’s ongoing contribution to local economies. Badly-needed changes to Scotland’s planning system, taking place in the coming months, can help ensure that support is translated into the onshore wind projects needed to tackle climate change.”