Funding awarded for green energy transition in Scotland

Over £50 million has been awarded to projects across Moray and the North East of Scotland to help with the green energy transition and secure jobs.

22 projects are set to receive funding, to cover research and innovation; new green skills training facilities; pilots for emerging energy technologies and projects that will prepare businesses for the supply chain opportunities that are set to come from the transition to net zero.

These are the first awards from the Just Transition Fund, which is set to invest £500 million in the region over 10 years to support the transition from fossil fuels to a low-carbon economy.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Aberdeen is the oil and gas capital of Europe. Let us resolve today to make it the net zero capital of the world. That ambition led us to establish the £500 million Just Transition Fund for this region.

“Today I can announce the first 22 projects have just been awarded funding of more than £50 million. These projects will support the production of green hydrogen, the development of wave and tidal technology, and even pioneer the use of waste from whisky to recycle EV batteries. And, they will focus on the skills our existing workforce need to take advantage of the renewables revolution.

“Incredible Scottish ingenuity here in the North-East, supported by the Scottish Government, developing technologies to tackle the global climate emergency. It is exciting, inspiring stuff."

Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work, Richard Lochhead, said: “Scotland is perfectly placed to lead the development of a green energy revolution. We are already at the forefront of the global development of offshore wind, as well as being world leaders in wave and tidal energy technologies. Others, such as hydrogen also promise to be game changers for our economy.

“As we embark on our energy transition we can build on the oil and gas industry’s expertise and ingenuity to transition to a clean energy future. This will help us achieve our net zero targets and create good green jobs as well as tackle inequalities in our society.

“The decades ahead must be a just transition and that means we must not leave anyone behind. We must ensure this economic transformation is managed fairly for workers in existing industries and the communities they support. I welcome the many ambitious projects that have come forward from North East Scotland and Moray as a result of our invitation to the region to co-design its future.”

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