Low carbon transport
Scotland's resources, expertise, drive and ambition make it an attractive location for investments in low carbon transport projects. Scotland is creating a sustainable decarbonised transport infrastructure and supply chain that’s on track to meet its net zero emissions target by 2045.
A leading light on climate change
Companies like yours will take comfort in knowing that Scotland is responding to the climate change emergency backed by UK and Scottish government investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Decarbonised transport
By 2032 we will phase out the need to buy petrol and diesel cars and vans and have plans to decarbonise Scotland’s railways by 2035.
£2bn public finance
£2bn of longterm public finance has been allocated to a new Public Investment Bank to decarbonise Scotland’s economy.
£3bn green opportunity
The Scottish Government has launched a £3bn Green Investment Portfolio to attract new low carbon investments into Scotland.
Test bed for green technologies
With highly populated urban centres, sparsely populated islands and combination of mountainous and costal terrain, Scotland is an ideal living lab for the development, testing and scale-up of new technology.
Pictured: E1 EV0 - the world's first electric fire engine designed and built in Scotland by Emergency One
Scotland’s low carbon transport opportunities
As demand for battery cells in the automotive industry outstrips supply, Scotland is looking to develop its supply chain and scale up the production of batteries and battery packs, plus smart tech for battery systems.
We are also investigating sodium-ion as a cheaper and more abundant element to further reduce battery costs and this will create areas of opportunity in Scotland for R&D and manufacturing.
For example, the University of St Andrews – together with other academic and industrial partners in the UK and overseas through the Faraday Institution – is currently working to accelerate the development of sodium-ion battery technology by taking a multi-disciplinary approach incorporating fundamental chemistry right through to scale-up and cell manufacturing.
There is a specific opportunity to develop this supply chain in Scotland, to reduce the UK’s reliance on overseas markets. Supplementary opportunities exist for battery recycling and reuse of batteries for second and third life use.
Scotland is fast becoming a leading centre for the development of electric drive trains for heavy duty vehicles. We’re setting up a series of platforms for R&D on different vehicle types including buses, trains, ferries, refuse and emergency vehicles.
This is opening exciting opportunities for companies to get involved in vehicle design, manufacturing, standardisation, safety and whole systems modelling, linking vehicle deployment with low carbon energy supply and refuelling infrastructure.
Scotland’s heavy populated urban areas and remote rural locations provide an ideal test bed for new electric vehicle development and deployment.
World firsts
Emergency One is a fantastic example of a Scottish manufacturer innovating for a low carbon future by launching the world’s first fully electric fire engine - the E1 EV0.
This all-electric pumping appliance has been designed to protect fire fighters as well as the environment – with improved safety features such as clean cab filtration systems that remove harmful residual particles that can impact health.
Emergency One is the UK’s leading manufacturer of fire, rescue and emergency vehicles and provides the highest extending ladders in the world to the London Fire Service.
The company has been supported by Scottish Enterprise and is poised to target international markets with the new net zero emergency vehicle.
"Scottish Enterprise is proud to have worked with this company over many years and to have supported this project to create the world’s first net zero fire engine, built in Cumnock, that will not only save lives in the role it will serve but also contribute to Scotland’s wider low carbon targets."
Linda Hanna, managing director of Scottish Enterprise
Glasgow City Council has commissioned an innovative hydrogen-powered refuse truck which is one of the first of its kind in the world.
Alexander Dennis Ltd has been at the forefront of innovation in zero emission buses, leading the market in the development of double decker battery and hydrogen powered vehicles with specialist international partners.
CAV Forth is a world-leading project which will provide a globally significant demonstration of UK autonomous bus capability along a 14-mile route across the Forth Road Bridge between Fife and Edinburgh. This multi-partner approach will see the autonomous bus service operate on a trunk road network from Fife, across the Forth Road Bridge Public Transport.
Scotland’s first hydrogen-powered train will be showcased at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow in 2021.
Scotland’s ambition is to achieve zero-emission railways by 2035, five years ahead of the rest of the UK.
Our rail opportunity is based on a market of:
- £48 billion planned and committed investment in rail in the UK
- £5 billion investment in electrification projects
- £3 billion for rolling stock replacement in Scotland alone
There are also opportunities for companies to produce diesel alternatives for non-electrified routes, such as independently powered battery and fuel cell electric trains.
In addition to decarbonisation, investment at UK level in ‘mega’ rail infrastructure projects such as HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, provide a generational opportunity for the rail supply chain.
We are working to grow industrial capability in Scotland to create an international rail cluster providing skills, innovation and supply chain capability to support decarbonisation of rail and delivery of projects on time and on budget.
Scotland is leading on rail decarbonisation through the Power of Tomorrow Innovation Train project. Led by Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland, the project is engaging with Scottish SMEs and academics to convert a train provided by ScotRail to battery and hydrogen fuel cell electric.
The project is aimed at accelerating development and deployment of battery electric and fuel cell electric powered trains, providing alternatives to diesel for non-electrified lines.
This will build Scotland’s innovation and supply chain expertise related to zero-emission rail.
With strong knowledge and capabilities in hydrogen, yet a currently limited supply chain, Scotland offers plentiful opportunity for international companies active in this field.
There are opportunities for fuel cell development, niche vehicle design and manufacturing, and additional supply chain opportunities include refuelling infrastructure, operation and maintenance, plus hydrogen safety and flow rate meteorology.
You can take advantage of the opportunity to work with Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub to develop a commercial supply of green hydrogen into the North East region or with Hydrogen Accelerator Initiative at the University of St Andrews to develop niche vehicles and optimise drive trains for specific applications.
More about Scotland's hydrogen-powered transport projects
An innovation powerhouse
Scotland is already home to many ambitious low carbon transport projects
The Connected Places Catapult recognises Scotland’s efforts to transform the transport industry. It supports growing businesses with innovations in mobility services and connects public and private sectors, local government and transport authorities to drive new commercial opportunities.
Did you know?
- Scotland aims to make the Highlands and Islands the world's first net zero aviation region by 2040
- Every one of Scotland's city centres will be vehicle emission-free by 2030 thanks to a £80 million investment in walking and cycling and a £500 million investment in bus infrastructure
- One of Europe's largest fleet of hydrogen buses is in Aberdeen and has already delivered over 1 million passenger miles
- The world's first hydrogen-fuelled seagoing car and passenger ferry is scheduled for launch in Orkney in 2021
- The world's first electric fire engine is designed and built in Scotland by Emergency One
- Dundee was named Europe’s most visionary EV city in 2018 by the World Electric Vehicle Association and has the largest UK electric taxi fleet
- Scotland’s islands are home to some of the world’s most innovative projects integrating renewable energy generation and transport systems, including several hydrogen-demonstration projects on Orkney
- The world’s first passenger-carrying autonomous bus will be the CAV Forth Project over the Forth Road Bridge
Zero Emissions Mobility Opportunities
Watch this webinar to hear why Scotland is an ideal living lab for the development, testing and scale-up of new technology to meet its net zero target by 2045.
Biofuel from whisky by-products
Scotland’s national spirit is now powering cars, thanks to groundbreaking research from Celtic Renewables.
The company – a spinout from the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University, founded by Professor Martin Tagney OBE (pictured) – developed a biofuel from whisky residues.
The whisky industry produces over 1,600 million litres of whisky by-products a year that can be converted to fuel – Celtic Renewables’ innovation could help reduce our energy consumption.
Talent and skills you need
Want to attract and retain the right talent to maintain your competitive edge? Scotland’s academics have the ambition to be world leaders in sustainable development. And our universities and colleges understand their role in developing people that can meet the skillset required for the future.
- Heriot-Watt University - a world-leading centre for policy and innovation in transport logistics
- University of Strathclyde (Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management) - combines end-to-end multidisciplinary expertise from creative design, manufacture & management of an entire product or system
- University of Edinburgh - a world-leading informatics department, including the Bayes Centre
- St Andrews University - hosts the Fuel Cells & Batteries research project which, with funding from the Faraday Institution, aims to create a safe, cheap, long-lasting battery which could revolutionise electric travel and renewable energy storage
- Napier University - a hub for the development of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs), including Scotland’s longest established transport research group to solve practical problems and issues in transport
Scotland is strongly represented in complementary sectors such as advanced engineering and manufacturing. These industries can offer supply-chain skill sets well suited to diversification into low carbon-based opportunities, meaning you can unlock new value from our well-established expertise.
Get support from TalentScotland
Supportive business environment
Invest in Scotland and you can take advantage of our close connections to the best academic institutions, both in Scotland and abroad. Your company will benefit from dynamic industry clusters and connected supply chains.
The Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme aims to support Scotland's transition to a low carbon economy. Through this programme, companies like yours can access a range of support, from expert advice to financial support to assist the development and delivery of private, public and community low carbon projects across the country.
The creation of the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc backed by £60 million investment over the next decade will focus on R&D in sustainable mobility, clean transport and low carbon energy solutions.
It has excellent infrastructure, connectivity and space to grow as well as green energy and heat supplied from local sustainable sources. A key aspect of this project will be to develop a Skills Centre of Excellence creating a talent pipeline with the right skills and a fully equipped environment for businesses to upskill and train staff across the sector.
Cost-efficient location
Large scale renewable energy resources such as wind, wave and tidal are now being linked to storage and markets in the UK and Europe. Scotland has the greatest wind resource in Europe (25%) and some of the highest capacity factors.
Efficient energy storage will help unlock the potential to use Scotland’s abundant natural resource to power our transport requirements.
As such, there are plans to situate hydrogen production close to wind farms, which will use surplus electricity to reduce cost of hydrogen, making your low carbon transport project more cost efficient.
Ask our specialists about investment opportunities in Scotland's low carbon transport.
You might also be interested in
Scotland is building a greener future
Get the latest on Scotland's smart cities, green buildings and climate change solutions.
11 future technologies
Scotland's long tradition of tech innovation is stronger than ever, making it the place to do great things digitally.
Our people and skills
Access an exceptionally well educated, skilled and talented workforce.