Scottish Green Businesses Get £62m Boost From Gov’s Energy Transition Fund
The Scottish Government launched a £62 million Energy Transition Fund to support renewable energy businesses in Aberdeen, Scotland, in wake of COVID-19 and oil and gas price drops.
The projects that could benefit from the fund include the Energy Transition Zone, business park, in Aberdeen South Harbour and the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub, which furthers renewable energy initiatives, particularly green hydrogen in the transport sector. The fund will also support innovation projects launched by Net Zero Solution Centre, which is part of the Oil and Gas Technology Centre.
Jenny Laing, Co-Leader of Aberdeen City Council Councillor, views the fund as a vote of confidence in Scotland’s green energy policies: “This is a first step in delivering on our priority of ensuring Aberdeen is at the forefront of Scotland’s ‘green recovery’ whilst demonstrating the importance of the city region to the UK’s and Scotland’s success.”
Laing, continues: “A commitment to combating climate change was the central theme of this year’s Council budget and, building on that, the Council approved a Net Zero Vision and Strategic Infrastructure Plan for Energy Transition.”
The fund also fuels the drive for net zero carbon emissions in Scotland. Laing, comments:
“To have secured funding so quickly to advance these projects is clear recognition that Aberdeen City Council is leading the way and a model for the drive towards net zero carbon emissions.”
The Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub will build on Aberdeen Council’s previous green hydrogen transport investment and maximise on significant large-scale offshore wind resources, supply chain expertise, and hydrogen storage capability.
Significantly, The Energy Transition Zone is expected to accelerate the development of carbon capture technology and renewable energy, particularly offshore wind and green oil and gas production.
Douglas Lumsden, Council Co-Leader Councillor, explains why the Energy Transition Zone is particularly significant for Scotland’s transition to renewable energy: “The inclusion of the Energy Transition Zone recognises its significance as a transformational project for the Scottish and UK economy. We anticipated its national importance in March with its inclusion and a policy for an energy transition zone in the proposed Local Development Plan.”
Lumsden, also comments on the importance of renewable energy on job creation in Scotland: “Our Net Zero vision and Infrastructure Plan provides Aberdeen with significant opportunity to safeguard skills, jobs for our young people and retain and attract new talent and investment here in Aberdeen, as do our plans for a Hydrogen Hub.”
Lumsden, views Scotland as “an economic powerhouse” and these renewable energy initiatives, which have the funding to be implemented “will help maintain [Scotland’s] global position as a major energy city.”
Scotland is making impressive progress in the renewable energy sector and showing the world that Scotland is a force in renewable energy that can help the UK reach the goal, set by the government, to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050.