Green investment opportunities: Scotland's many advantages
19 Apr 2022 • 10 minute read
Find out about the many green opportunities for investors and businesses in Scotland.
Green investment is a priority in Scotland as a core part of the nation’s ambitious net-zero strategy. Michelle Howell, Head of Investment Management within Scottish Enterprise’s Growth Investments Team, explains more about the green opportunities for investors and businesses in Scotland.
Ideal testing ground for innovative technologies
Scotland has ambitious net-zero targets including a statutory target of a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2045.
While existing technologies can provide some of the emissions reductions required, innovations in new technology will also be needed. Effectively, Scotland is now a testing ground for innovative low-carbon technologies and green solutions.
The Acorn CCS carbon capture and storage project opens in a new window in North East Scotland, for example, is an important catalyst for attracting international investment in clean technologies, helping transform carbon intensive industries into low carbon industries.
Another is Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) – a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise - which is an area dedicated to generating economic growth in Scotland, that supports a fair and just transition to a net zero economy.
Arcola Energy and SWARCO are among MSIP’s first international tenants supporting development of sustainable mobility, clean transport and low carbon energy solutions. MSIP will stimulate growth and diversity in the Scottish economy while addressing the global climate emergency.
The combination of Scotland’s relatively small size, its natural resources, 19 universities, and unified approach across all industries and institutions creates an ideal environment for innovation to thrive.
Many of the green solutions developed and proven in Scotland will likely be scaled up globally as other countries seek to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Therefore, what is happening in Scotland provides significant early opportunities for businesses to thrive and for first-mover investors to buy into new technologies with strong potential for long-term returns.
More about climate technologies being developed in Scotland
Financial backing to support energy transition
While the drive to net zero brings numerous investment possibilities, these new markets carry high risks that need financial support. Funding is essential for early-stage innovation to develop the vital technologies and solutions required to phase out fossil fuels.
The Scottish Government is providing the necessary financial backing to support investors. It is also helping businesses to develop new green products as well as transition to a low-carbon, green economy.
Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s national economic development agency, funded by the Scottish Government, provides a wide range of financial and non-financial support to companies benefitting the Scottish economy.
Scottish Enterprise formed an investment function in 2003 with an innovative private/public commercial co-investment model to widen the pool of investors in Scotland’s early-stage landscape.
Having worked closely with the investment community both locally and internationally, Scottish Enterprise has widened its commercial funding activities to achieve its objectives and de-risk new markets. This means providing long-term 'patient' capital where there are funding gaps.
Most recently, Scottish Enterprise added a loan offering to its portfolio of products for growth-focused small and medium enterprises.
Scottish Enterprise is committed to funding ambitious clean energy startups, such as electric-vehicle charging specialist Trojan Energy.
Trojan Energy EV charging point
Fertile ecosystem ready for investment
Michelle Howell is Head of Investment Management within Scottish Enterprise’s Growth Investments Team. She explains how the sheer number of funding options available puts Scotland at a considerable advantage over other countries when it comes to green investment.
"I am blown away by the ever-increasing variety of funding support for the low-carbon energy sector and wider green innovation in Scotland," says Michelle. "The many available options also cater for the diaspora of exciting companies operating in this space in Scotland. Support ranges from grants, services in kind, public-sector funds, investor funds, loans, accelerators and prize-based competitions to commercial R&D contracts."
"Scotland is firmly focused on the scale of the investment opportunity and the need to significantly accelerate investment into net-zero solutions. That is because we see this as imperative to the green recovery and the future of our economy."
Find out more about funding, grants and support
The changing behaviour of investors
Many international investors are already taking advantage of what Scotland has to offer, while countless others are keeping a close eye on developments.
Michelle says the push towards net zero is having a direct influence on business investment decisions in Scotland, with a dramatic change in priorities during the past year or so.
This change is linked with increasing news stories and awareness about the effects of climate change. Also, there is the alignment of private capital with net-zero portfolios, demonstrated by coalitions such as the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero opens in a new window with over $130 trillion USD of private capital committed to accelerating the transition to a global net-zero economy. In addition, there is the momentum of the COP26 (Conference of the Parties 26) summit hosted in Glasgow in November 2021.
Michelle strongly believes this changed mindset from investors is here to stay.
"In the last 12–18 months, we’ve seen a seismic shift through our engagement with private sector investors and Scottish Enterprise’s multiple touchpoints with the Scottish company base – and I believe that is driven by shifting global trends and environmental, social and corporate governance matters," adds Michelle.
"Staying relevant for investment is key. This must be combined with the underlying principles of aligning purpose with profits. Equally, there is a recognition that significant innovation is required if we are going to deliver this transition. So, that creates significant growth potential and opportunities for companies and investors – and finance plays a critical role in unlocking all of this. There is no pathway to net zero without the finance sector."
Investing to reach net zero
Scotland has legally binding targets to cut 75% of all greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with cuts increasing to 90% by 2040, and then achieving net zero by 2045, five years before the rest of the UK.
Clean energy is at the forefront of Scotland’s climate strategy. The country has seen widespread investment in windfarms, and now the potential of tidal turbines is starting to be realised by companies such as Orbital Marine Power. Investment from Scottish Enterprise alongside key partners has helped the company to develop the world’s most powerful tidal turbine, which connected to the grid last year.
There is also the MeyGen project, where Scottish Enterprise has supported the largest planned commercial tidal project in the world.
Furthermore, investment is increasing in green hydrogen, which is a sector predicted for substantial growth within the next decade as industries search for viable new fuel sources. Technologies being developed in Scotland such as carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS), and bioenergy also offer significant potential to reduce emissions.
"While clean energy is an essential part of the transition, it is only one part of the solution," explains Michelle.
Working together for success
Reaching net zero is going to take a united effort across all industries. Scotland’s growing tech sector is expected to make an important contribution to decarbonisation – for example, using artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics to increase energy efficiency in industrial operations.
"The key question across all sectors is: how do we decarbonise all the tricky industries? These include cement, plastic, steel, aluminium, food production, farming and construction. There must be a significant focus on energy efficiency, circular economy, designing out waste, keeping materials in use, and reducing environmental impacts – and how technologies and investment are required to achieve this," says Michelle.
"Importantly, investing in nature and restoring biodiversity is a prerequisite. Transition to net zero will require significant changes and is no longer optional. That brings real economic opportunities and potential for financial returns for the finance community. In our portfolio, we have got some incredible companies.
Opportunities for green finance
"One example is Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), a Scottish agritech business delivering vertical farming solutions.
"In November, IGS announced the conclusion of its Series B funding round with a total raise of £42.2 million, including US-based agricultural investors. That is a business Scottish Enterprise has supported since startup through equity co-investment."
David Farquar, CEO of IGS at the Growth Tower at the James Hutton Institute
"Another company in our portfolio is Spire Global, a space-powered Earth data company that collects data from space to monitor aviation, maritime and weather patterns across the world. It delivers indicators related to disaster risk reduction, as well as mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with a growing base in Glasgow. A significant milestone for the company was a merger with NavSight Holdings and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2021."
Green investment portfolio
In Scottish Enterprise’s investment portfolio, there are more than 340 organisations. These represent a wide range of Scotland’s innovative high-growth potential early-stage companies, covering multiple sectors and working with a variety of co-investors.
During 2020-2021, Scottish Enterprise directly invested £68 million into 177 companies alongside £122 million of private sector funding. Scottish Enterprise has been supporting low-carbon technologies and innovations for more than 15 years and increasingly is seeing net-zero-related innovation and solutions form a significant proportion of its activity.
2020-2021 proved to be Scottish Enterprise’s most successful year on record in terms of returns, with an income of £55 million across its diverse investment portfolio – predominantly through exits. Given the exit activity being witnessed this year, Scottish Enterprise is expecting another record-breaking year for income.
Smarter Grid Solutions opens in a new window is a good example of a recent exit. It helps electricity operators automate the supply and demand of power while also helping connect renewable energy to the grid. The company has gone from strength to strength since Scottish Enterprise first co-invested back in 2008, and recently attracted global attention leading to its acquisition by Mitsubishi Electric. Mitsubishi will now provide growth capital and allow the company to continue expanding and go global from its base in Scotland.
Find the advice and support you need
Scottish Enterprise’s Investment Team help businesses find sources of finance, engage with funders and secure investment to grow. Providing expert support and advice, Scottish Enterprise can help businesses access a range of funding options, including its commercial co-investment funding opportunities and loan funding.
So, if you’re looking for returns that outperform most of the UK and business-friendly policies, there’s never been a better time to be in Scotland. Want to learn more about our commercial property opportunities, our low carbon ambitions and how we support investors? We’re here to help.
This article was first published by Investment Monitor - 20 January 2022 opens in a new window
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