Holyrood Magazine’s annual publication exploring Scotland’s energy sector features debate over whether renewables can lead Scotland out of recession and drive growth
for a generation or, in the words of one commentator, the Scottish Government’s vision is simply a “mirage”. John Constable and Euan Robson, of the Renewable Energy Foundation, question if subsidies for the renewables industry will be an unsustainable burden on consumers. Holyrood magazine environment correspondent George Thomson looks at the contribution of wave and tidal to Scotland’s low-carbon targets and reports on how the nation’s energy interests and Europe are in flux but that the EU must re-engineer first. And staff writers report on how a renaissance in coal production is threatened by rejection of clean tech, North Sea oil and gas production could rebound and that global investment in biomass power generation could exceed £65bn over the next decade.
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| Briefing |
Briefing - Powering Scotland
Exploration hit by economic gloom
Oil and gas firms drilled 34 per cent fewer wells in the UK Continental Shelf last year compared with 2010, according to an end-of-year review by Deloitte.
It blamed economic turbulence and rig shortages for the slowdown.
Operators drilled 49 wells compared with 74 wells the previous year, on a par with activity levels in 2003 and contrasting sharply with the Netherlands, Denmark and Greenland which saw stable or growing energy exploration.
Norway saw the largest increase -12 per cent - compared with 2010. Offshore drilling activity across NW Europe fell 12 per cent last year with 122 exploration and appraisal wells begun, while the pace of new field start-ups continued to drop across both the UK and Norway,... |
| Features |
Recognising opportunity
30 January 2012
 The energy sector can lead Scotland out of recession and drive economic growth for a generation
Fossil fuels continue to dominate Scotland's energy supply mix in spite of considerable progress towards the 'green revolution'. In the longer term, this is financially and environmentally unsustainable because of increasing fossil fuel prices and the global drive to cut carbon emissions. But far from... |
 Alternative view
Scotland's renewable energy future is a mirage, says one organisation
In December, the Scientific Alliance and Adam Smith Institute produced a report on the contribution of renewables to Scotland's future energy mix. With the First Minister talking of the country becoming the 'Saudi Arabia of renewable energy' and both Holyrood and Westminster seemingly convinced that injecting taxpayers' money into the sector... |
 At what price?
Subsidies tolerable during sustained economic growth look less so in harder times
The progressive development of renewable electricity generation has been settled public policy in Scotland since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Both the former Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition Scottish Executive and the minority and now majority SNP Government have relied on a narrow but powerful range... |
 Scotland's energy
MORAY, ISLAY & PENTLAND FIRTH
OFFSHORE WIND
Moray Offshore Renewables announced details of a 4.5bn project to create the world's largest offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth, with potential for up to 1,400 jobs during construction, and almost 300 jobs during operation.
Also last year, the Scottish Government consented the world's largest tidal energy array in Islay. Scottish Power's 40m project will generate enough electricity for 5,000 homes - double the... |
Relationship matters
30 January 2012
 Scotland's energy interests and Europe are in flux but the EU must re-engineer itself first
With Scotland's domestic politics becoming increasingly myopic as questions over the country's constitutional future dominate proceedings, the role of the EU has been sidelined more than ever.
Listening to Scottish representatives in Brussels, the familiar lament is... |
 Testing, testing
Wave and tidal could make Scotland's low carbon dream become reality
When Holyrood asked Calum Davidson what surprised people about the marine and tidal energy industry in the north of Scotland, his answer was simple: I think the thing that surprises people is that it's actually happening, because everybody's been talking about this for so long.
I... |
 Coal fired debate
Renaissance in coal production threatened by rejection of clean tech
UK coal consumption is expected to significantly exceed production in the coming years. Coal producers can sell every ton that they can produce and more, providing them with a huge opportunity to profitably increase production.
Production had... |
 Northern lights
After a challenging decade, oil and gas operators are being drawn back to the North Sea
Investment in the North Sea is set to hit a record high this year, according to consultants Wood Mackenzie. Spending in 2012 is expected to exceed the 2011 record of 7.5bn and is forecast to... |
 Multi-bn promise
Global investment in biomass power generation will exceed 65bn over the next decade
This month, the world's largest biomass-fuelled power plant was scheduled to come online generating an estimated 750 megawatts (MW) of base load renewable power. The facility at Tilbury represents a significant step forward for the biomass power generation sector, which is expected to expand rapidly in the coming decade.
Defined as the generation of electricity and heat from biomass... |
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