Scotland's Economy

  • Renewables in Scotland: Adding Up to a Brighter Future

    4th August 2014 by

    Let’s start with some facts about renewable energy – leaving aside, briefly, the industry’s significant contribution to Scotland’s energy mix. First, Department of Energy and Climate Change research shows 80% of the UK public back “the use of renewable energy for providing our electricity, fuel and heat”, while just one in 20 oppose the idea....

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  • World leader in offshore renewables

    12th June 2014 by

    Scotland has the potential to be a world leader in all stages of offshore renewable energy – from technological development to manufacturing, to the generation of electricity. That potential will only be fully realised across the country – and making sure that the benefits are spread across Scotland is an important aim of ours. Progress...

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  • US marine energy conference recognises Scotland’s global lead

    14th May 2012 by

    After previously attending the Global Marine Renewable Energy Conference (GMREC) in Washington DC in 2010, I was asked this year to deliver a keynote speech. Scotland’s global lead in marine renewable energy attracted international interest and this time around, there was a heightened awareness of Scotland’s global lead with most of the speakers referring to Scotland in their presentations.

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  • Scotland showcases offshore expertise

    1st May 2012 by

    Attended by 70,000 delegates and 2000 exhibiting companies from over 110 countries, OTC represents a huge opportunity for Scottish businesses to develop new global trading opportunities.

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  • Swinney visits Samsung in Korea

    19th April 2012 by

    Daylight on Geoje Island in Korea revealed an amazing sight - the Samsung shipyards. It is hard to convey how overwhelming is their presence. In one dry dock, the size of six football pitches, four container vessels were under construction. And that was just one relatively small part of the site.

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  • Samsung chooses Scotland

    2nd February 2012 by

    I welcome the news that Korean company Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) is to base its first European offshore wind project in Fife. The investment is worth up to £100m and is expected to create more than 500 new jobs in Scotland.

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  • Solar Feed in Tariffs

    25th January 2012 by

    Today the UK Government’s Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) lost its appeal to the UK High Court on Solar Feed In Tariffs.

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  • Enterprise areas

    17th January 2012 by

    John Swinney at GlaxoSmithKline

    I was delighted to visit GlaxoSmithKline inIrvinetoday to announce the locations ofScotland’s four new Enterprise Areas – fulfilling the pledge we made in the Government’s Economic Strategy. The Glaxo site will form part of the Life Sciences Enterprise Area along with locations in Moray, the Highlands, Edinburgh and Midlothian. There are two proposed Enterprise Areas...

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  • Project Transmit

    7th January 2012 by

    I have been working with Ofgem, the National Grid, the energy sector, Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney Island councils and other interested parties to find a solution for electricity transmission charging which works for Scotland.

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  • EWEA Conference, Amsterdam

    28th November 2011 by

    Scotland's huge ambitions for the generation of green energy is understood by audiences internationally, as I discovered when I attended two major european events last month. The range of Scottish companies showcasing at these events - many with support of Scottish Development International - is remarkable and a real testament to our burgeoning energy sector.

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