In 2011, months after the SNP formed its historic majority government in Holyrood, Alex Salmond declared that Scotland was to become ‘the Saudi Arabia of renewables’. The development of the green economy, so the former First Minister argued, would not only offer skilled employment but underpin the foundations of a future, independent state. A decade and a half later, this promise is yet to materialise. Following the ScotWind auction of 2022, Scotland’s seabed was leased to a selection of large fossil fuel companies, state-owned energy firms and asset managers.The SNP having junked its commitment to establish a national energy company, Ireland's government today owns more Scottish offshore wind than the Scottish Government does.  Meanwhile, of the 1,000 jobs that the UK Government’s much-lauded GB Energy promised to bring to Aberdeen, just 13 have materialised. To discuss the opportunities and challenges of Scotland's offshore economy, Coll McCail is joined by Laurie Macfarlane and Dave Moxham. Laurie is a co-director of Future Economy Scotland, a non-partisan think tank that aims to create a new economy that is democratic, sustainable and just. Dave is the Deputy General Secretery of the Scottish Trade Union Congress, which represents 550,000 workers through 40 affiliated unions. Support Skotia on Patreon Future Economy Scotland: Who Owns ScotWind? STUC report on Scotland’s low carbon and renewable energy economy

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