Scotland grants approval to four offshore wind energy projects

Four new, large-scale wind projects have been approved by the Scottish government

The Scottish government has granted approval for four large-scale offshore wind energy projects to take form. The country is quickly becoming one of the most attractive wind power markets in the world and Scotland has shown strong support for offshore projects. Once the four new projects are completed, they will represent major progress toward Scotland's goal of deriving 100% of its electrical power from renewable sources by 2020.

Projects will bring a combined 2.2 GW of wind energy capacity to the country

Altogether, the four projects have a combined energy capacity of 2.2 gigawatts. The projects are being developed by Mainstream Renewable Energy, Repsol Nuevas Energias UK, SSE, and Fluor. These projects have received support from the Scottish government, and this support  may go a long way in expediting the development of the new wind energy systems off the country's coasts. The government sees a great deal of economic potential in wind power, expecting new projects to generate as much as $1.5 billion in economic activity.

Scotland has plans to develop 4.15 GW of wind projects in the coming years

Some 4.15 gigawatts of wind energy projects have been approved by the Scottish government. Many of these projects are still in the planning phase, but others are nearing completion. Many of the projects that have been approved by the government are onshore wind farms, with the minority being offshore projects. These projects have also received financial support from the United Kingdom government, which has been increasing investments in the renewable energy space over the past year.

UK is shifting focus toward other forms of clean energy, including nuclear power

While Scotland continues to pursue wind power, the rest of the United Kingdom is beginning to shift focus away from solar and wind toward nuclear energy. Recently, the government approved funding for the development of a new nuclear energy facility, which has been criticized by environment advocates and supporters of other forms of renewable energy. The UK retains a strong interest in solar and wind power, however.