The Scottish Government has the opportunity to “transform” the energy sector, according to a group of industry experts.
Scotland’s future energy taskforce is an independent panel of professionals and academics brought together by WWF Scotland to inform Holyrood’s plans for the future of the sector.
Members of the taskforce have released their recommendations this week ahead of the imminent publication of the government’s strategy paper.
Among the recommendations are calls for Scotland’s energy system to be “decarbonised” and for climate change targets to be hit by the given deadlines.
This could be enabled by taking steps like a phased ban of cars in certain areas and the uptake of hydrogen bus fleets.
The taskforce claim that the Scottish Government will require “all the powers at its disposals” including incentives and regulation in order to bring about the changes need to safeguard the country’s energy industry against economic change.
The paper, released todaymonday, is the first time that all of the government’s plans for across the energy sector have been brought together all in one place.
Dr Keith MacLean, chair of the UK Energy Research Centre advisory board, and facilitator of the taskforce wants the government to set out a bold vision with the forward looking strategy.
He said: “A major task like decarbonising the energy system will not be achieved on a piecemeal and incremental basis, nor without an integrated long-term plan.
“This new energy strategy is an excellent opportunity for the Scottish Government to assert overall leadership and control over the nation’s energy future.
“Decisions will need to be made, and ‘low regrets’ options like energy efficiency taken forward now, rather than waiting for silver bullets in the future.”
Other recommendations made by the taskforce include upgrading buildings to improve heat retention and reducing carbon emissions from public transport and road-going freight.
Jenny Hogan, director of policy at Scottish Renewables and a member of the taskforce, said: “Global investment in renewable energy is running at £200billion a year, and there exists a real opportunity for British businesses to tap into this growing market with the right leadership and support from government.
“The forthcoming industrial strategy presents an opportunity to show that support and continue to back the UK’s growing renewable energy sector.”
Energy minister Paul Wheelhouse, called on the UK Government to ensure that renewable energy investment is a key priority in their industrial strategy, which will be launched today.
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