Scotland’s First Minister to approach French on Renewables Investment
An announcement is expected to be made later today by Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, that could deliver a massive boost for Scotland’s vision as the “renewable powerhouse of Europe”.
The announcement is expected to arise from Salmond’s visit to Paris to discuss potential “unprecedented” investment opportunities in Scotland with French Energy Executives. The Firswt Minister hopes to hold “roundtable discussions” with firms working in tidal and wave renewables, including the French energy giant EDF, Total and Veolia.
Mr Salmond said he would be meeting the “key figures from the leading companies in France’s energy sector” in pursuance of his policy “to harness clean, green energy and meet our climate change targets that are the toughest in the industrialised world”.
The First Minister highlighted the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney as “the world’s only accredited test facility for wave and tidal energy devices” and the £10m Saltire Prize for the development of a commercially viable device generating renewable wave or tidal energy for two years.
Salmond said: “With such abundant natural resources, we must continue to collaborate with international energy companies to ensure Scotland’s opportunity becomes the world’s opportunity and that we continue to work with other nations to meet the global challenge of climate change.”
We hope that the Salmond secures the potential investment, enabling Scotland to take another step towards its vision as the “Powerhouse of Europe”.
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