(S3O-6491) Marine Renewables Devices (Infrastructure)

Marine Renewables Devices (Infrastructure)

1. Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to build the port and transport infrastructure that is needed to launch marine renewables devices in Scottish waters. (S3O-6491)

The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson):

Ports in Scotland have a major role to play by providing strategic transport infrastructure, thus contributing strongly to the Government's core purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth. The ports sector in Scotland is diverse and adaptable. It is well placed to pursue commercial opportunities in partnership with the expanding marine renewables sector.

The recently reconvened forum for renewable energy development in Scotland's marine energy group is considering the marine renewables industry's port and transport needs. The identified needs will be set out in the Scottish Government's renewables action plan, which is to be published later this year.

Rob Gibson: I thank the minister for that reply and for sharing my view on the need for urgency in the drive to install clean energy machinery. Will he identify the Scottish, United Kingdom and European Union funding streams that ports such as Scrabster, Scapa Flow and those in the Cromarty Firth can access to speed up what the minister and I both wish to see, which is the development of tidal and wave devices in the Pentland firth and so on?

Stewart Stevenson: It is indeed important that we maximise access to all sorts of funding sources for our harbours, and that funds are available from all. That is particularly the case in light of the substantially higher than expected interest from developers, as a result of the Crown Estate's recent round 1 leasing programme for the area. We will keep a very close eye on funding from all possible sources.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): One possible funding source is the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which has very deep pockets. I am thinking of the on-going work to decommission Dounreay. Can the minister give an assurance that, when he comes to consider the potential of harbours including Scrabster and Wick, he will co-ordinate closely with the NDA with a view to getting as much money as possible from the authority for those two harbours?

Stewart Stevenson: I am always a very good friend of anyone with deep pockets. The NDA is certainly a key player in the far north of Scotland, where it plays a very important role. I would be very happy to discuss with the NDA any role that it could play in the development of harbour and wider transport infrastructure.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): The minister will be aware that the best tidal energy resource in Scotland is to be found in the central part of the Pentland Firth, which is—as he will also be aware—an international shipping channel. Will he ensure that steps are taken to reduce the risk of conflicts between tidal energy development and the safety of those at sea? Will he work with the Crown Estate and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to ensure that the issues are given the highest priority?

Stewart Stevenson: Mr Macdonald is entirely correct to point to the potential for conflict and to identify by his reference to the MCA the need for different jurisdictions to work closely together to ensure that their respective responsibilities are focused on the same direction. He can be assured that we will do that.