Scottish Marine Recovery Fund
Overview
Delivering Scotland’s offshore wind ambitions is critical to addressing the climate and nature crises, and to realising the significant economic opportunities of Scotland’s path to net zero.
There is an ambitious pipeline of offshore wind projects in Scotland, with a current reported potential pipeline of over 40GW of offshore wind projects on top of our existing operational capacity. To maximise the delivery of offshore wind in Scotland and fulfil our environmental obligations, we are working in partnership with the UK Government to use the opportunities provided by the Energy Act 2023 to deliver ambitious policy and regulatory reform.
Subject to UK parliamentary approval, regulations made under section 292 of the Energy Act 2023 allow for the establishment, operation and management of one or more Marine Recovery Funds (MRFs). These funds would be available for use by developers of relevant offshore wind activities (as defined in the Energy Act 2023) to fulfil requirements to secure environmental compensation. Subject to a successful application and any necessary conditions being met, developers would be able to pay into an MRF, with the fund then responsible for delivering appropriate compensatory measures to offset adverse environmental effects from offshore wind. The Energy Act 2023 also allows for such compensatory measures to potentially be delivered on a more strategic basis.
Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.
Consultation questions preview
The consultation questions are included here for your reference. Please click 'Begin consultation' at the bottom of this page to proceed.
Applying to the Scottsih MRF
1. Do you agree with our proposal that developers may choose which MRF to apply to in the circumstances outlined?
2. Do you agree with the proposal for the way in which the two MRFs will interact to address cross-border impacts?
3. Do you agree with the proposed approach for making an application to the Scottish MRF and how it will interact with existing offshore wind application and determination processes?
4. Do you agree that the Scottish MRF should be a voluntary mechanism, including in relation to strategic compensation?
Funding and fee structure
5. Do you agree with the proposal of an initial payment to reserve access to appropriate compensation?
6. Do you support the proposal that the Scottish MRF Operator will be responsible for assigning appropriate compensation to projects?
7. Do you support any payments made into the Scottish MRF being non-refundable?
8. Do you support a full cost recovery model for the Scottish MRF?
9. If options are available, do you have a preference for whether the total payable to secure compensatory measures should be paid in a single lump sum or through a payment plan?
10. Do you agree with the proposal that a 30% adaptive management charge will be charged to all applicants to the Scottish MRF?
11. Do you agree with the proposal that the 30% adaptive management charge will be non-refundable?
12. Do you agree with the proposal that surplus funds may be used for further development of measures?
13. Do you have any other comments on the proposed costs and charges as described above?
Interaction between the Scottish MRF and the UK Governement MRF
14. Do you support the establishment of a Scottish MRF that operates separately from a UK Government MRF, providing Scottish offshore wind developers and plan authorities with a mechanism to compensate for adverse effects in Scottish waters?
15. In addition to how cross border impacts are proposed to be addressed between a Scottish MRF and the UK Government MRF (see question 2), do you have any other views on how both MRFs should interact with one another?
Impact Assessments
16. Do you have any comments on the findings of the partial BRIA?
17. Do you have any additional information on the potential business or regulatory impacts of a Scottish MRF being established?
18. Do you have any comments on whether the establishment of a Scottish MRF will have any positive or negative impacts on consumers of Scotland?
19. Do you have any comments on whether the establishment of a Scottish MRF will have any positive or negative impacts on island communities, in a way which is different from other communities?
General questions
20. To what extent do you agree that establishing a Scottish MRF to streamline offshore wind consenting and deliver strategic compensation measures will; help Scotland achieve net zero? be beneficial to the people and environment of Scotland? be beneficial to developers of Scottish offshore wind projects?
21. If you were/are developing an offshore wind project would the Scottish MRF be an attractive option to address any adverse environmental effects?
22. Do you have any other comments on the overall proposal for the Scottish MRF?
Useful information about responding to this consultation
As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.
Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.
On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.
After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.
An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our consultation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).
Why your views matter
Through this public consultation, the Scottish Government is seeking views on the Scottish Marine Recovery Fund and the following impact assessment:
Partial Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA)
This consultation seeks your views on proposals for establishing a Scottish MRF and how it would be operated and managed. Responses to this consultation will inform the design of the Scottish MRF and our approach to engagement with the UK Government on the UK secondary legislation, which will be required to establish the Scottish MRF and delegate functions to operate and manage it.
Give us your views
Events
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Scottish Government Consultation Event: Marine Recovery Fund
From 28 Aug 2025 at 11:30 to 28 Aug 2025 at 13:30The following event has been organised to support the public consultation on the Scottish Marine Recovery Fund. During this webinar we will provide an overview of the Scottish Marine Recovery Fund, the wider context in which it sits, and how stakeholders can help to shape the policy.
There will also be an opportunity for stakeholders to ask questions on any aspect of the policy - both through Slido and during the course of the webinar itself.
We look forward to engaging you and receiving your feedback.
Note: You do not have to attend both events as the content covered will be the same.
Please find the registration link here:
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e7eac064-6566-4ef4-99d2-3542805aa681@0ef77447-1083-4dec-b89f-27c765076840 -
Scottish Government Consultation Event: Marine Recovery Fund
From 3 Sep 2025 at 17:00 to 3 Sep 2025 at 19:00The following event has been organised to support the public consultation on the Scottish Marine Recovery Fund. During this webinar we will provide an overview of the Scottish Marine Recovery Fund, the wider context in which it sits, and how stakeholders can help to shape the policy.
There will also be an opportunity for stakeholders to ask questions on any aspect of the policy - both through Slido and during the course of the webinar itself.
We look forward to engaging you and receiving your feedback.
Note: You do not have to attend both events as the content covered will be the same.
Please find the registration link here:
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ee192ce9-122e-47b4-ba5a-0914e53a70fe@0ef77447-1083-4dec-b89f-27c765076840
Interests
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Main hub
- Marine and Fisheries
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