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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told delegates at this week’s Scottish Renewables conference in Edinburgh that the government recognises and values the contribution the industry makes to Scotland.

Speaking at the open plenary session of the organisation’s annual conference at the city’s Sheraton Hotel she said:

“So you have become a major Scottish success story.

“It follows that the key message I want to get across to you this afternoon is simply this. The Scottish Government recognises and values the contribution all of you make to Scotland. We want the renewables sector to be even more successful in the future, than it has been in the recent past. And we are determined to work with you to achieve that aim.”

However, the First Minister had warnings on the impact of Brexit.

She said: “If the UK Government decides – not just to leave the EU, but also to leave the single market, which is their stated position at the moment – it is likely to hinder our supply chain and reduce our skills base.”

She added: “And we could also lose access to EU funding which none of us want to see happen. It is worth remembering that just last year, Scotland benefited from one of the biggest investments ever made by the European Investment Bank – the half billion pounds of funding they provided for the Beatrice offshore windfarm.

“It is fair to say that Scotland has also done disproportionately well from EU support for research and innovation in the renewables sector. We want that to continue,”

Moving away from Brexit to domestic policy, Ms Sturgeon called on the UK government to help wind power develop so that it remains central to the energy mix.

She said: “UK Government policies, at present, effectively stop new developments from having a route to market. That strikes us as being incredibly counter-productive.”

She called for the UK Government to allow onshore wind to compete in contract auctions against other energy technologies. She explained: “It’s an approach which would be good for consumers and obviously good for the onshore wind sector.”

Ms Sturgeon said that she hoped the Scottish planning bill will help streamline procedures for renewables projects and “encourage better and earlier discussion with communities”.

And she said the hopes that that the new national Scottish investment bank will be a “cornerstone of the lower carbon economy”.

In a statement responding to Ms Sturgeon’s comments on Brexit, Claire Mack, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: "The First Minister is right to say that Brexit presents risks to the future success of Scotland’s renewable energy industry, but it’s vital to recognise that the most significant challenges faced by the industry in recent years have been domestic ones.



"While leaving the EU could restrict access to funding and hinder the free movement of labour both to and from Europe, policy support for renewable energy – not least our cheapest and most mature technologies – is essential. Westminster can help to stabilise revenues which underpin investment, and a focus on minimising costs here in Scotland will ensure this is the most competitive place to develop a renewable energy project.



"It is vital that the outcome of the negotiations on Europe have regard for the ways in which industries like renewable energy work: collaboratively, across borders and with cost as a constant imperative."

Speaking in a Q&A session as part of opening plenary session at the conference, Matthieu Hue, chief executive officer of EDF Energy Renewables, said that, coming from France, he personally regards Brexit as a big issue. In business terms he called for certainty on Brexit to allow companies to make investment decision for the future.

In his presentation to delegates, Hue called for more flexible planning in Scotland to keep up with latest technology developments.