Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment said:
“As part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling climate change, we are preparing to deliver a challenging target of reducing Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. We also want to see 50 per cent of all Scotland’s electricity produced from renewable sources by 2020.
“Forestry Commission Scotland manages around a tenth of the country’s land mass and the forests and open land are ideal places to explore the development of windfarms and other renewable projects in a sensitive manner. “
As well as leasing land for wind energy projects, the Climate Change (Scotland) Act will allow Forestry Commission Scotland to enter into joint ventures for the first time.
Lochhead added:
“Before, the Commission often relied on approaches from developers about leasing land for windfarms. Due to the potential scale on offer, we are now taking a more ambitious approach and wish to offer an opportunity to enter into partnerships on wind energy projects to bring about better financial returns and benefits to communities.”
The Commission will seek to avoid net loss of woodland from windfarm construction on the national forest estate, with compensatory planting being carried out where necessary.
The move comes hot on the heels of a previous announcement encouraging the development of small-scale hydro schemes on Commission land. Already around a dozen organisations have expressed an interest in taking forward hydro projects.
To maintain momentum in windfarm development, the Commission has already signed a joint agreement with Partnerships for Renewables (PfR), part of Carbon Trust Enterprises Ltd, to develop windfarms in the Scottish Borders and Scottish Lowlands. PfR has the aim of developing renewable energy projects on public sector land.
Stephen Ainger, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Renewables, said:
“We believe that the strategic approach announced today by Richard Lochhead is the best route to maximising both the delivery of renewable energy across the Forestry Commission Scotland estate and the commercial opportunities for the renewable energy industry.
“We fully endorse the Commission’s intention to ensure that the local community not only benefits economically from these projects but are involved in the development process.”
