Spatial planning for sustainable marine renewable energy developments in Scotland

•Marine renewable energy is set to expand rapidly in Scotland.•Spatial modelling has been used to balance opportunities and constraints.•We have identified priority development areas.•Sectoral planning for renewables includes SEA and Sustainability Appraisal.•Draft Plan areas will be subject to public consultation.

Scottish Government targets for renewable energy developments are ambitious. The creation of new marine industries requires a structured approach that links marine spatial planning with Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal. Marine Scotland Science has worked with The Crown Estate spatial decision support tool MaRS to plan for wave, tidal and wind power in Scottish waters. This multi-factorial spatial modelling system has been used to visualise and balance the relative opportunities and constraints on development arising from a wide range of environmental, industrial and socio-economic factors. Areas of search for development sites have been identified, explored through Regional Locational Guidance and adopted in development plans.