The report that the UK and Scottish governments commissioned consultancy firm Baringa to complete, shows that Scottish onshore wind, marine and tidal generation could contribute up to 18.5TWh of electricity by 2030.
However, there are “considerable costs that need to be overcome” due to the remote locations and the harsh climate – which can cause costs of onshore wind to double – and the expense that would be incurred in establishing transmission links.
Despite this, the report adds that onshore wind in the Scottish Islands, which would be around £19/MWh and £45/MWh more expensive than comparable mainland projects, could still worthwhile because significant £100+/MWh generation will be required to meet 2020 targets.
Energy secretary Ed Davey said the report “marks a considerable step in progress towards making decisions” on renewable on the Scottish Islands but added that “it’s vital that projects represent value for money for the consumer”.
The Scottish energy minister, Fergus Ewing, welcomed the report more enthusiastically than his Westminster counterpart.
Ewing said the report was a “huge step forward” in understanding the challenges renewable developer face in the Scottish islands.
He added: “This independent report makes absolutely clear that they (renewable) can make a cost-effective contribution to 2020 renewables and decarbonisation targets if issues around grid access and high transmission charging can be addressed.”