A report published by the Crown Estate has said that an undersea cable, which would enable Scottish renewable energy to be distributed around the UK, is technologically and economically viable.

The findings, published on the day the Scottish Parliament holds a debate on energy, evaluates the potential offshore east coast transmission line to take electricity from as far north as Shetland to the south east of the UK, with the potential to connect to the rest of Europe. Further studies are now to be conducted.

The report concludes that such a project could succeed and would allow new renewables projects to connect to the national grid. The Scottish Government has identified grid reinforcements to support renewable energy development as a potential national development priority in the National Planning Framework which is currently out for consultation.

Alasdair Rankin, the head of Marine Business Development Scotland at The Crown Estate, said: “We recognise Scotland’s massive natural renewable energy resource, which has the potential to be very valuable for Scotland. However, connection to the national grid is crucial to the long-term viability of the Scottish renewables industry, and improvements to the network are particularly important for green energy projects in the Highlands & Islands. As providing clean, sustainable energy climbs higher up the agenda, we at The Crown Estate are committed to supporting and nurturing the industry.”

Rob Hastings, the director of the Marine Estate at The Crown Estate, added: “This report confirms that an undersea cable down the east coast is technologically and economically viable and we have now commissioned more detailed studies. The prospect of taking green energy right down the east coast to heavily populated areas in the south, and potentially to the rest of Europe, is incredibly exciting: today’s report brings that key infrastructural development one step closer.”

The report states that the total network could cost around £4.8bn by 2020. However, the Crown Estate notes that the Stern Review of the economics of climate change in 2006 showed investment in clean energy can repay itself several times over, and this east coast connection could also form part of the European Supergrid proposal which is currently under consideration.