This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Study of Scotland's energy use
26/01/2006
The first two volumes of a detailed study on past, present and future energy use in Scotland were released today.
The first part of the Scottish Executive Energy Study maps energy generation and consumption over the twelve years to 2002 and is intended to inform decisions on Scotland's power options.
Key findings include:
- Overall energy consumption over the survey period in Scotland dropped by more than two per cent;
- Total CO2 emissions fell by 5.2 per cent from 46.1 to 44.1 Million Tonnes (Mt).
- Consumption by the domestic, transport and service sectors rose significantly, offset by a 30 per cent drop by industry; and
- That the pattern of electricity generation in Scotland in 2002 was as follows:
Nuclear 36 per cent
Coal 33 per cent
Gas 20 per cent
Hydro 8 per cent
Other renewables 3 per cent
- Renewable energy supply rose by around 13 per cent over the period
Deputy Minister for Enterprise Allan Wilson said:
"This study will support the Executive's policy making in a number of key areas including energy supply and demand policy, climate change, energy efficiency, sustainable development and renewable energy.
"Electricity generation from renewables is increasing and we are making further progress towards meeting our target by increasing Scotland's potential to develop marine energy.
"These figures demonstrate the challenge of maintaining security of supply, without becoming over-dependent on imports.
"At the same time, we have an absolute obligation to pursue policies which will lead to a reduction in carbon emissions.
"For these reasons, the debate over the Energy Review is at least as important to Scotland as to any other part of the UK."
"We have set ambitious targets to have 18 per cent of electricity generated in Scotland come from renewable sources by 2010 and 40 per cent by 2020.
"I have every confidence that our targets will be met."
Deputy Minister for Environment Rhona Brankin added:
"We recently launched a strategy to set out actions for government, business and consumers to reduce our global environmental impact, or 'footprint'.
"Reducing our CO2 emissions and moving towards renewable energy is very much a part of that goal and I welcome today's study as a stepping stone for further action to be taken."
Today's publication marks volumes one and two of the overall study. The remaining volumes will be published in 2006.
The study has been carried out by AEA Technologies following a commission by the Executive in July 2004. On supply, the study investigates the supply and distribution of oil, gas, coal and nuclear in all energy-use areas such as the generation of electrical power. It also analyses the current impact of renewable energy, its projected use, the current state and opportunities for embedded generation.
On demand, it examines energy use in all end use sectors, i.e. the industrial, business, service, domestic, transport and agricultural.