Proposals to streamline development of offshore renewables published

A blueprint to streamline the scoping, planning and consenting of offshore renewables developments was published today.

The report, prepared by a task force comprising Marine Scotland, environmental regulators, renewable developers and The Crown Estate, was welcomed by Alex Salmond as he co-chaired the first 2012 meeting of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board (SEAB).

The task force recommendations will now be taken forward by Marine Scotland, SNH and other regulatory/advisory bodies. They build on MS’s existing work, including the creation of a ‘one-stop-shop’ to reduce the number of statutory/advisory bodies to be contacted during licensing, and the publication of a marine renewables licensing manual, currently undergoing review and to be expanded to include offshore wind energy development.