Our low carbon implementation plan highlights a number of areas where we can help Scotland’s key sectors and businesses to exploit low carbon opportunities, explore new markets and technologies, and promote long-term ambition and resilience.
These low carbon opportunities extend beyond renewable energy, and Scottish Enterprise is working with Scotland’s Industry Advisory Groups and other trade bodies to consider low carbon opportunities in areas such as Food and Drink, Chemical Sciences and Tourism.
As part of our support for globally competitive key sectors, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International will ensure that Scotland is capable of competing in global low carbon markets, exporting Scottish expertise and attracting foreign and direct investment. Scottish Development International will develop and promote Scotland’s low carbon brand, strengths and investment propositions overseas.
Investment
PricewaterhouseCoopers has estimated a Scottish funding gap of around £4 billion before the debt markets will enter the market. Scottish Enterprise will help to stimulate investment in this capital hungry sector at a time when bankers and investors are risk averse.
Infrastructure assets
Scottish Enterprise will manage a £70 million investment fund to strengthen Scotland’s port and manufacturing facilities and support supply chain provision for our offshore industries.
Supply chain development
To ensure that businesses, their suppliers and associated institutions are well connected, Scottish Enterprise is supporting a series of events aimed at stimulating supply chain activity at various stages in the development of renewable technologies, from marketing and installation, to operation and maintenance.
We will help to develop the low carbon innovation systems which will drive the low carbon economy and will align selection criteria for business and innovation support with Scotland’s low carbon objectives through programmes such as SMART.
Skills
To meet the scale of the opportunity, we must start to transfer skills from other sectors and retain and attract talent to the sector. Scottish Enterprise can contribute to the low carbon skills agenda through our leadership development interventions.
For further information, guidance and support on low carbon business opportunities, please contact John.J.Crawford@scotent.co.uk.