Scottish Renewables’ chief executive has said she can see a “really strong relationship” forming between the oil and gas and renewables sectors as they look towards the energy transition.
Claire Mack looked at the similarities and ways each sector can benefit the other, saying that they share a common language and way of working, particularly in terms of the supply chain.
She said: “I can see a really strong relationship between oil and gas and renewables in terms of managing that energy transition and we’re both talking the same language around about that.
“A lot of the supply chain between renewables and oil and gas is common and a way for us to manage that supply chain to be able to smooth output would be helpful to all of us.”
Asked what renewables can learn from oil, Ms Mack said: “Their focus was certainly sharpened by the changes in price and it’s been quite a recent phenomenon that they’ve really focused on cost reduction whereas its always been something that’s been at the heart of our industry. So to some extent, I think there’s something we can teach them about that.
“There are also different methods around contracting within the oil and gas sector which might be useful in terms of renewables when risks are shared because of the very high infrastructure and investment costs that are involved.”
Ms Mack also spoke about the current concerns surrounding the troubled Scottish supply chain fabrication firm BiFab.
Ms Mack said: “We’ve got to be really clear about where BiFab’s problems started and it was not with the renewables energy industry. They were essentially a supplier to the oil and gas industry and in some senses renewables has come in to try and help and shore up some of the work that didn’t come to them through the changes in the oil and gas industry.
“I agree that there’s a huge perception issue around the supply chain. I think we’ve got to be really realistic again around where we are as an industry. We are serving a local market here but our industry is essentially a global industry, we’re tackling global issues and we are part of an international supply chain.
“Us being able to get the bits that we do really well even better and more efficient is absolutely essential but I think we really do need to keep our eye on the very fact that we need to be competitive at an international, global level. If we can build a supply chain that has those skills in Scotland those skills are then exported all around the world.”
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