Wind could boost Scottish prospects

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LONDON, June 14 (UPI) -- Developing the offshore wind energy sector for Scotland could reindustrialize the country, the Scottish energy minister said from London.

The Scottish government says it has the potential to produce as much as 10 gigawatts of electricity from wind energy by 2020. It has 25 percent of the installed capacity in Europe.

"Offshore wind could reindustrialize Scotland, building on the skills and experience we have gained from the oil and gas industry to create new, high-quality jobs for our workforce," said Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.

The British government, at an international offshore wind energy summit in London, said it aims to cut the cost of wind energy by more than 20 percent to roughly $150 per megawatt hour by 2020.

Ewing said driving costs down would serve to increase the wind energy potential in the region.

Scotland aims to derive 100 percent of its electricity demand through renewable energy projects by 2020. The government estimates it met 35 percent of its electricity demand last year through renewable energy resources.