Green light for Europe’s largest floating wind farm is huge boost for Scotland
The go-ahead for Europe’s largest floating commercial scale wind farm confirms Scotland’s position as the ambitious international driving force behind generating clean energy to slash emissions on a massive scale, say the Scottish Greens.
The approval of the Green Volt wind farm off the coast of Aberdeenshire will also showcase Scotland’s vast and transformative renewable potential, says Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell, as the country moves towards net zero by 2045.
Mr Ruskell, who is the party’s climate spokesperson, has hailed the new development as a game changer for Scotland and our renewables ambitions.
Figures from 2022 show that renewables generated the equivalent of 113% of Scotland’s overall electricity consumption. This followed a Fraser of Allander Institute report, which found the number of jobs supported by the renewables sector rose by over 50% in a year.
Mr Ruskell said: “This is such a crucial time for Scotland’s transition to renewables from oil and gas, and game changing projects like this have a key role in driving the change that is so vital as we look to achieve net zero by 2045.
“Green energy is the cleanest, securest and best energy we can have, and Scotland has an abundance of resources and a vast and transformative renewable potential that any country would envy.
“The recent growth of the renewables sector has been really astounding and really inspiring. It is a sign of the strength of ambition here in Scotland, but also of the greener future that we must strive for.
“Now, more than ever, it is key that we double down in our support for renewables and in moving beyond the fossil fuels that are doing so much damage.
“Projects like this put Scotland at the heart of change and are instrumental in building a country and an economy that works for people and planet.”
