Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is calling for a North Sea supergrid to export surplus renewable energy generated by the region to the rest of Europe.

“Scotland has a clear, competitive advantage across the range of renewable technologies – with up to 25% of Europe’s offshore wind, wave and tidal energy potential,” he said.

“It is vital that we harness our renewables resources, and develop a grid infrastructure so that we can export the massive quantities of green energy Scotland is capable of producing.”

He comments came as the Scottish Government published a feasibility study of a potential North Sea offshore grid.

“[The study] will allow us to explore the opportunities associated with the development of an offshore transmission network, and help make the case for commercial investment,” said Salmond.

Scotland will be working with other North Sea countries and the European Commission to pursue the option of a supergrid for the region.

“I have previously written to EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs to ask that the case for a supergrid be included in the forthcoming Strategic Energy Review. We are hopeful that our case will be considered positively in the review when it is published,” he said.

The second edition of Europe’s energy strategy, Second Strategic European Energy Review (SEER II), is due to be published shortly.

For further information:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Home
ec.europa.eu/energy/energy_policy/

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