Commenting on Audit Scotland’s new report on the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round, Miriam Brett, Co-Director at the think tank Future Economy Scotland, said:

“We welcome Audit Scotland’s findings, which echo many of the calls we set out in our Rethinking ScotWind report last year, from a greater weight placed on supply chain commitments in bid assessments, to stronger penalties where developers fall short of commitments. [1]. If Scotland is to realise the full economic potential of our offshore wind resources, future leasing rounds must do far more to anchor domestic investment, jobs and industrial capacity.

“But it is not enough simply to create more jobs – we also need to ensure they are good jobs. Future leasing rounds should also embed Fair Work requirements as a core condition of leases to ensure the expansion of offshore wind delivers good jobs, fair pay and strong working conditions.”

“We also welcome Audit Scotland’s call for much greater transparency over how offshore wind proceeds are being used. We agree that the proposed ScotWind Wealth Fund could be an important part of getting this right – but it is crucial that any wealth fund has robust governance, and is designed with input from a wide range of stakeholders. 

“The elephant in the room, however, is ownership. Our research found that the overwhelming majority of ScotWind capacity is owned by companies headquartered outside the UK, with some owned by foreign governments, meaning profits will flow overseas. The £755m raised from one-off option fees pales in comparison to the cumulative profits generated over the coming decades. Many Scots would find it absurd that the governments of Ireland, Sweden and Denmark will receive a share of ScotWind profits, but the Scottish Government will not. As such, taking minority public equity stakes in future projects would ensure the people of Scotland receive an enduring share of the profits generated from our own natural resources. 

“Overall, ScotWind represented a historic step forward, but it is vital that the lessons from the first leasing round shape what comes next. Scotland failed to ensure that the wealth generated by our oil and gas resources was widely shared. We have an opportunity to rewire Scotland’s approach to offshore renewables, ensuring the benefits are shared more broadly, in line with a just transition.”

[1] Future Economy Scotland’s report ‘Rethinking ScotWind: Maximising Scotland’s Offshore Wind Potential’ can be found here: https://www.futureeconomy.scot/publications/135-rethinking-scotwind-maximising-scotland-s-offshore-wind-potential 

[2] Audit Scotland's new report, 'Management of the ScotWind leasing round: How the Scottish Government is using offshore wind funding', was published on17 September 2026, and can be found here: https://audit.scot/publications/management-of-the-scotwind-leasing-round-how-the-scottish-government-is-using-offshore 

[3] Future Economy Scotland is a non-partisan think tank that aims to create a new economy that is democratic, sustainable and just. The organisation does not have a formal stance on Scotland’s constitutional future, and is not aligned to any political party or any politician. The organisation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee operating with charitable principles. For more information visit: www.futureeconomy.scot