Scotland’s Energy
A summary of discussions on 14 March 2026, based on notes compiled by facilitators John S Proctor, Rhys Stanwix and Stuart Clements.
[NOTE: The full version of the Energy Discussion notes includes a range of points, some complimentary and some contradictory, as well as detailed proposals with examples for infrastructure, management, pricing and control of the sector. This summary prioritizes brevity over comprehensiveness. The Energy Group Steering Committee has the full version to work with.]
Scotland has the resources and capability to maintain security of supply through a diverse, sustainable energy mix including on and offshore wind, solar and tidal with various forms of storage. Gas turbines will be required for a period of time for capacity and grid stability, but there is strong support to continue the moratorium on new nuclear plant. Nuclear power plants are expensive, take more than 10 years to build and create toxic waste. While small modular reactors might bring jobs to areas needing employment, they are only a concept with no safety licence or cost and schedule estimates. There are better options than this.
Sector Control
There is strong support for the independent Scottish Government to exert operational control of electricity generation, transmission and supply. Diverse views on the nature of that control include creation of regulatory agencies such as SIREN (Scottish Independent Regulator of Energy & Networks – unanimously agreed at the IFS Convention in Perth in June 2025), a publicly owned National Energy Company with control of generation and supply, and a Scottish Energy System Operator (SESO).
The desire is uniform for immediate energy market reform to ensure that Scotland’s people and industry benefit from the plentiful supply of renewable energy in and around the country. There is consensus to move away from using a volatile, internationally traded commodity (gas) to set the price of electricity. Suggestions include the use of zonal pricing.
Ownership
Community and Municipal energy projects provide a means to deliver affordable energy and allow residents to share in the benefits of local heat and electricity schemes. A proposal for the Scottish Government to create a taskforce to assist in the siting, development and construction of these schemes (also approved at the IFS Convention in Perth), offers a practical solution. The recommendation for Scottish Local Government Pension Funds to be used to support these projects (consistent with the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026) was powerfully presented from the floor of the meeting.
Environmental Impact
Concerns about the adverse environmental and visual impact of infrastructure projects proposed or under construction throughout Scotland include many in rural areas. Creation of a Scottish Infrastructure Planning Agency (SIPA) will ensure that community concerns are given due weight in the assessment of such projects.
The environmental and economic benefits of measures to improve energy efficiency in homes and buildings were noted. Such schemes and measures are already within the powers of the Scottish Government and would have greater emphasis with the enhanced fiscal freedom available in an independent Scotland.
Just Transition
There were calls for clarity and urgency on the Scottish Government’s just transition plans to recognize the importance of the Oil & Gas sector to the Scottish economy. However opinions varied on the continued promotion of oil and gas in the face of the climate challenge.
Productive Partnerships
The value and importance of Scotland’s educational sector was widely acknowledged with calls for the Scottish Government to support a symbiotic relationship between Universities and Scotland’s innovators in the field of energy technology through the industrial placement of technology graduates. This is viewed as a win-win-win situation.
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