Scotland can boast one of the most diverse energy industries in the world. Blessed with an abundance of natural resources, Scotland is able to generate power through a number of sources and compete in several international energy industries.
The energy industry is flourishing, with Scotland at the forefront of a number of different sectors.
Oil and gas sector
The North Sea is home to maturing oil and gas fields. Indeed, the oil and gas industries contribute a considerable amount to the UK economy. Scotland's vast experience in subsea technology means that new oil fields are being exploited all the time.
Wind energy industries
A number of research institutes in Scotland are currently exploring methods of producing energy from the wind (offshore and onshore) more efficiently and cost-effectively. These include:
- Institute for Energy Systems (IES) at the University of Edinburgh.
Marine energy industries
This covers wave and tidal energy research. Much of this is carried out by marine institutes, such as:
- Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME).
- Institute for Energy Systems (IES) at the University of Edinburgh.
- Centre for Research in Energy and the Environment at Robert Gordon University.
Fuel cell research
Scottish research institutes are currently leading the way in developing fuel cell technology. Fuel cells:
- have been predicted to become a hugely important source of energy in the coming decades;
- are clean and emission-free; and
- produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with the only by-products being water and heat.
Solar power sector
Several Scottish universities carry out groundbreaking research into aspects of Solar Thermal and Solar Photo-Voltaic technology. Important discoveries are being made which enhance the solar energy industry by reducing cell production costs.
Bio-energy industries
Bio-energy refers to the production of energy from commercial energy conversion plants fuelled by specially grown energy crops or the use of farm, forestry or processing residues (including straw, animal manure, wood residues, etc) and gas from landfill sites.
Find out more about the dynamic Scottish energy industry
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