To achieve this, energy companies are being invited to form partnerships with the Commission to build wind energy projects at suitable locations across Scotland.
Estimates suggest that the wind potential available on the Commission’s land could meet the needs of over a million homes and has the potential to generate L30 million a year by 2020.
Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment said:
 “As part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling climate change, we are preparing to deliver a challenging target of reducing Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. We also want to see 50 per cent of all Scotland’s electricity produced from renewable sources by 2020.
 “Forestry Commission Scotland manages around a tenth of the country’s land mass and the forests and open land are ideal places to explore the development of windfarms and other renewable projects in a sensitive manner. “
As well as leasing land for wind energy projects, the Climate Change (Scotland) Act will allow Forestry Commission Scotland to enter into joint ventures for the first time. 
Mr Lochhead added:
“Before, the Commission often relied on approaches from developers about leasing land for windfarms. Due to the potential scale on offer, we are now taking a more ambitious approach and wish to offer an opportunity to enter into partnerships on wind energy projects to bring about better financial returns and benefits to communities.”
Estimates suggest that these wind energy projects could generate L 30 million in revenue, further boosting green energy development in Scotland. 
The Commission will seek to avoid net loss of woodland from windfarm construction on the national forest estate, with compensatory planting being carried out where necessary.
The move comes hot on the heels of a previous announcement encouraging the development of small-scale hydro schemes on Commission land. Already around a dozen organisations have expressed an interest in taking forward hydro projects.
To maintain momentum in windfarm development, the Commission has already signed a joint agreement with Partnerships for Renewables (PfR), part of Carbon Trust Enterprises Ltd, to develop windfarms in the Scottish Borders and Scottish Lowlands.  PfR has the aim of developing renewable energy projects on public sector land.
Stephen Ainger, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Renewables, said:
“We believe that the strategic approach announced today by Richard Lochhead is the best route to maximising both the delivery of renewable energy across the Forestry Commission Scotland estate and the commercial opportunities for the renewable energy industry.
“We fully endorse the Commission’s intention to ensure that the local community not only benefits economically from these projects but are involved in the development process.”
An invitation to energy companies for initial expressions of interest will be published on Forestry Commission Scotland’s website this week. For more information on developing wind and small-scale hydro schemes on the national forest estate, log on to www.forestry.gov.uk/windhydro.
Notes to news editors
1.  Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government’s forestry directorate and manages the 665,000 hectare national forest estate.  Climate change is the biggest threat facing the planet and Scottish forestry is playing its part in helping tackle climate change. With trees naturally locking up carbon, they have a significant role in reducing the affects of climate change.  The development of renewable clean energy on the national forest estate can make a significant contribution to the Scottish Government’s climate change targets. www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland.
2. Partnerships for Renewables was set up by the Carbon Trust in 2006 to work in partnership with the public sector to develop, construct and operate renewable energy projects. By providing a one stop shop for the development of renewable energy projects focused on a project development process tailored to the specific needs of the public sector, Partnerships for Renewables provide a way for Public Sector Bodies to access the economic and environmental benefits associated with renewable energy and contribute towards the fight against climate change without diverting public sector resources away from frontline services.
As announced in March 2008, PfR is now 51 per cent owned by Carbon Trust and 49 per cent by HSBC Environmental Infrastructure Fund. Partnerships for Renewables is working with Forestry Commission England towards a scheme for the public forest estate in England and also with HM Prison Service, British Waterways, the Environment Agency, and a number of other public sector bodies to promote and develop renewable energy development.
3. At a national scale, through the creation of new woodlands, Scotland is continuing to expand its woodland resource. Nevertheless, some individual woodlands have been removed over the last few decades as part of a deliberate change in land use, such as the restoration of important open ground habitats, or for development such as housing or wind farms. In its management of the national forest estate, Forestry Commission Scotland works fully within the Scottish Government’s policy on control of woodland removal (see www.forestry.gov.uk/woodlandremoval).
4.    Media enquiries to Steve Williams, Forestry Commission Scotland 0131 314 6508 or 07771 730 509. For Partnerships for Renewables, contact Tom Brinicombe on 0207 832 4672 or 0781 416 9380.