Calls for more government support for the marine renewable sector in Scotland came in a report published today (26th August) by the industry-led Scottish Marine Energy Group. In the report the Group puts forward a selection of recommendations to assist the industry in Scotland including:

* A call for the Scottish Government to repeat its Wave and Tidal Energy Support scheme
* A review of grid infrastructure required to support growth
* A fresh look at the levels of support available under the renewables obligation
* Calls for the Treasury to do more to help the sector, including the release of the Fossil Fuel Levy surplus funds to help promote renewables in Scotland.

Potentially, says the Group, a successful marine renewable industry in Scotland could return a host of benefits including more than 12,000 jobs and a contribution of £2.5 billion to Scotland's economy by 2020.

The report was welcomed by Scottish Renewables the voice of Scotland's renewable energy industry which said that a fresh funding stream to help wave and tidal projects move from pre-commercial development phase to full commercialisation is required to secure the benefits and jobs potential of marine renewables in Scotland.

Morna Cannon, Scottish Renewables' Marine Energy Specialist said, “There is now a clear route for the development of our massive wave and tidal resources in Scotland, but without a clear funding mechanism to get projects from design to commercialisation we may be stuck at first base.

"The Road Map [the report] does identify the need for funding to help projects leap to commercialisation, but all eyes will be on the next Scottish budget to see what will actually materialise for industry.

"The Government's own National Planning Framework shows the importance of grid for all renewables. The Beauly Denny upgrade is now urgently needed as the first step in developing the grid for wave and tidal technology around our coasts."

The Scottish government too welcomed the report. "Marine energy will be key to Scotland's future energy mix and that's why we changed our support mechanisms to give greater assistance to wave and tidal energy in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK," said Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney.

"The report, put together by industry, highlights the actions it believes we need to deliver a commercial scale industry. It confirms there could be 12,500 Scottish jobs in marine renewables by 2020, a huge boost for the economy and a long term platform for sustainable growth.

"Industry recognises, as this Government has always believed, that the Treasury should unlock Scotland's share of the Fossil Fuel Levy - currently over £150 million - to allow us to give additional support to our renewables industry, the economy and environment."

Swinney concluded; "This report is an excellent example of collaboration in the public and private sectors. The recommendations are very much industry driven and we will consider their views very carefully as we continue to build a world leading renewables sector."