Scotland’s renewable energy drive is set to receive a big boost courtesy of energy bill payers across the UK as it becomes increasingly clear that the SNP Government’s just transition drive is going nowhere.

While Donald Trump railed against “windmills” when he visited his Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire at the weekend, energy minister Ed Miliband has encouraged hopes Scotland will get lots more of them by approving a big increase in the support provided for developers.

The offshore floating wind sector will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of reforms to the main scheme the UK Government operates to encourage firms to commit to the upfront investment required.

In the latest round of the Contracts for Difference programme floating windfarm developers will be guaranteed £271 per megawatt hour (MWh) for their output regardless of what prices prevail in the market.

The value of the revenue guarantee has increased by more than 10% since the latest allocation round was completed last year, when the strike price for floating windfarm output was set at £245/MWh.

Mr Miliband is so anxious to ensure that the round is a success that he has also agreed to extend the standard term of CFD awards to 20 years from 15.

READ MORE: Just transition fund farce deepens as Scottish firms fight over windfarm scraps

The changes were announced weeks after Scottish Renewables said bold action was required from ministers to maintain the momentum behind the development of the emerging floating windfarm sector, which champions reckon can play a crucial role in the net zero drive.

While only two floating windfarms have been developed off Scotland to date their performance has reinforced hopes that such schemes could offer big........

© Herald Scotland