Amazon Leaders Urge Scotland to Avoid Illegal Logging for World's Largest Floating Wind Farm
Key Insights
Amazonian leaders warn Scotland's Green Volt wind farm project may rely on illegally logged balsa wood from the Amazon rainforest.
The Wampís Nation highlights rising disputes and violence linked to balsa wood demand for wind turbine production.
Green Volt, the world's largest floating wind farm, has not confirmed its turbine supplier amid supply chain concerns.
UK and Scottish governments face calls to enforce ethical supply chains and support indigenous-led sustainable projects.
Amazonian leaders have called on Scotland to ensure its ambitious Green Volt floating wind farm project does not rely on illegally logged balsa wood from the Amazon rainforest. The Green Volt project, approved last year and located 80km off Scotland's northeast coast, aims to become the world's largest floating wind farm. However, concerns have been raised by the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation in Peru, whose leaders visited Edinburgh to highlight the environmental and social impacts of balsa wood extraction.
Balsa wood, prized for its lightweight and durable properties, is a key material for wind turbine blades. The Wampís leaders, Pamuk Teófilo Kukush Pati and Tsanim Evaristo Wajai Asamat, warned that increasing demand for the wood has led to illegal logging, land disputes, and violence against indigenous communities in the Amazon. They allege that Mingyang, China's largest offshore wind company and a potential supplier for Green Volt, has historically relied on illegal balsa supply chains linked to their territory.
Green Volt, which secured UK government approval under the Contracts for Difference scheme in April 2024, has not yet confirmed its turbine supplier. A spokesperson emphasized the project's commitment to ambitious timelines to meet the UK's goal of 43-50 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated that supplier selection is a commercial decision but stressed the importance of ethical practices, including avoiding illegal logging.
The Wampís leaders urged the Scottish government to introduce corporate accountability laws and cut ties with companies linked to illegal logging. They also called for investment in indigenous-led sustainable projects. Tom Younger of the Forest Peoples Programme echoed these demands, urging governments to ensure wind power expansion does not harm indigenous communities.
The Scottish government reiterated its commitment to sustainable materials in the renewable energy supply chain, balancing economic growth with environmental protection. The Green Volt project, part of the Crown Estate Scotland's INTOG leasing round, represents a significant step in the UK's offshore wind ambitions but faces scrutiny over its supply chain ethics.