Plea for offshore wind investment

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/8379029.stm

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Investment of about £30bn is needed to develop Scotland's offshore wind power potential, it is to be claimed.

The first Scottish Renewables Offshore Wind Conference is being held in Aberdeen's Marriott Hotel on Thursday.

More than 200 representatives of the rewnewables and offshore oil and gas sectors are expected to attend.

The chief executive of Scottish Renewables, Niall Stuart, said that the economic opportunities for Scotland would be "huge".

New offshore windfarms are planned for Scotland, with many off the east coast.

Mr Stuart said: "Over the next few years the sector will see massive investment.

"We need to do everything we can to make sure that the north east and the rest of Scotland captures as much of that opportunity as possible.

"Just as Aberdeen and the north east has become a worldwide centre of expertise for oil and gas, Scotland can be a hub for offshore wind, particularly given our expertise in deep water in a harsh climate."