STEVENSON WELCOMES INCENTIVE FOR GREEN ENERGY INNOVATION

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Government of the opportunity to win one of the biggest international innovation prizes in history through its plans for the Saltire Prize. The Saltire Prize is one that will entail a £10 million challenge prize for those offering advances in clean energy.

The Saltire Prize draws inspiration from great innovation prizes of the 20th century such as the Ansari X Prize that led to the first private spacecraft launch and more recently the Virgin Earth Challenge which came up with a way to remove CO2 gases from the atmosphere.
The Saltire Prize is one that will aim to put the spotlight on Scotland’s critical work taking place in clean energy and further highlight its vast reserves of renewables potential.

Commenting on the award Mr Stevenson said:

"This is a fantastic stimulus to the world’s scientific elite and one which puts Scotland on the world stage as a leader in promoting ground breaking innovation in green energy. Such prizes create a real intellectual buzz and new opportunities for further research and development. In the North East we are in a great position to harness research and development investment due to the already prevalent world reputation that the region has as a hub of expert energy knowledge.

“With Banff & Buchan on the edge of the North Sea an area with vast marine energy potential and one where expert knowledge of the energy sector is not wanting we can stand to benefit from harnessing Scotland vast renewables potential. With 25 per cent of European tidal power and 10 per cent of European wave power we are in the position to be a real world leader.

“From the numerous residents employed in the energy industry to students being able to enrol in courses such as the Shell Engineering Training Scheme offered at Banff & Buchan College the spin off benefits for Banff & Buchan from the north oil industry are there for all to see. If we can further promote marine renewable energy investment in the North-east, similar spin off benefits can also be expected. This can only improve the economic viability of Banff & Buchan.”