Energy strategy

With the global demand for energy set to increase dramatically,alternative energy markets present the Scottish energy industry with fantastic opportunities for growth and change. Our strategy is to prolong the economic opportunities in the North Sea, and at the same time, we want to:

  • significantly grow Scotland’s share of global energy markets (currently around three per cent);
  • develop emerging renewable energy industries, including marine, offshore wind, fuel cells and hydrogen; and
  • develop expertise in offshore and nuclear decommissioning by transferring skills, technology and experience from other energy sectors.

Scotland’s Energy industries in 2010

By 2010, the main ambitions for the energy industry are to:

  • maintain Scotland’s share of the UK oil and gas, power generation and renewable energy expenditure levels at around £9 billion per annum, by offsetting the projected decline in offshore oil and gas with growth in renewable energy, offshore and nuclear decommissioning;
  • maintain Scottish employment in the domestic energy sector at around 100,000, growing in new sectors to balance expected decline in the North Sea; and
  • build overseas sales from Scottish oil and gas companies, growing from £2.7 billion in 2002 to £5 billion per annum by 2010.

For more information, download our full strategy document

PDF document Energy Industries Strategy 2005-2010: A strategic framework for Scotland’s energy sectors (PDF, 715kb)

Contact the Energy team if you have any comments about our policy on Energy