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| Inquiries / Issues for Scotland's Energy Supply |
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| May 2007. Report on Follow-on Activity (PDF 150KB) |
| May 2007. Appendices to RSE Follow-on Activity Report (155KB) |
| Watch video of report launch (opens in new window). June 2006 |
| New - Energy Events Series |
| Full Report (PDF 1.6MB) |
| Summary Report (PDF 154 KB) |
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| Remit / Membership / Evidence / Time scale / Funding / Contact Us / Press Releases / Submissions Received |
| Professor Maxwell Irvine, Chair of the Inquiry Committee, said: |
Energy is quite simply the single most important commodity for our survival. The provision of a sustainable, secure and safe supply of energy should thus be every nation’s highest priority. It is all too easy to lose sight of this priority in times of abundance. The future of that abundance is now in question and the impact of current demand is causing concerns about the consequences for our environment. Energy is an emotive subject and too important to become a party political issue. Our broadly-based Inquiry will be independent, impartial and multidisciplinary and seek to help keep the discussion at the level of national importance it warrants.
Remit |
| The remit of the group carrying out the work will be to: |
| 1. |
Review the issues for Scotland’s energy supply and demand between the present and the year 2050, in the context of the likely UK, European and global energy environment. |
| 2. |
Review the options for providing for Scotland’s energy supply and demand, considering feasibility, availability, reliability, sustainability, efficiency and capacity of sources and infrastructure for delivery, taking into account: |
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| (i) |
Economic issues of capital investment and distribution infrastructure, together with the impact of energy availability on commerce and industry. |
| (ii) |
Environmental concerns about global climate change and the impact on ecological and other natural resources, including waste management and landscape. |
| (iii) |
Social values and consequences of energy generation and distribution on employment opportunities, health, affordability and risk implications. |
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| 3. |
Provide an evidential base for energy policy in Scotland within the framework of strategies for transport, industrial, commercial and domestic needs, providing timeframes for action at both the UK and Scottish level, and raising public awareness and debate. |
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| Time-scale |
| The RSE expects to publish the Inquiry report by Summer 2006. Submissions should be made to the Society by the end of September 2005. |
| Membership |
| Professor Maxwell Irvine will Chair the Committee and the full membership of the group is as follows: |
| Chairman: Professor Maxwell Irvine, FRSE, Professor of Physics, University of Manchester. Former Principal & Vice-Chancellor, University of Aberdeen; Former Principal & Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham |
| Secretary: Professor Roger Crofts, CBE, FRSE, Former CEO, Scottish Natural Heritage |
| Members: |
| Professor Andrew Bain, OBE, FRSE, Economist, Former Visiting Professor, Department of Economics, University of Glasgow |
| Professor Geoffrey Boulton OBE, FRS, FRSE, Vice-Principal and Regius Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Edinburgh |
| Professor Allan Findlay, FRSE, Professor of Geography, University of Dundee |
| Dr Robert Hawley, CBE, FRSE, FREng, Engineer, Former Chairman, Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council |
| Dr Malcolm Kennedy, CBE, FREng, FRSE, Chairman, National Energy Action |
| Professor Andrew Miller, CBE, FRSE, General Secretary of the RSE |
| Professor Jeremy Peat, FRSE, Former Group Chief Economist, the Royal Bank of Scotland |
| Professor Janet Sprent OBE, FRSE, Member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution |
| Dr George Watkins, CBE, Former CEO, CONOCO UK, Former Chairman, Grampian Enterprise |
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| Oral & Written Evidence |
| The Committee invites organisations and individuals with relevant experience to give evidence. Click here to view evidence submitted |
| Consultation Questions |
| The following consultation questions are being put to stakeholders: |
| - |
How should Scotland provide for its energy needs over the next 5, 15, 30, 45 years, in the context of the likely UK, European and global energy environment? |
| - |
Should Scotland aim to be self-sufficient in energy in general, and in electricity in particular, despite trends towards interdependence within Europe? |
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What are the possible implications and consequences for Scotland, and the UK, of becoming increasingly reliant on imported oil and gas for their energy needs? |
| Energy Supply |
| - |
What is the feasibility, availability, reliability, sustainability, efficiency, capacity and risks of the different energy generation technologies? |
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What are the likely trends, and uncertainties, in the availability and cost of energy sources over the next 20/45 years? |
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What are the economic issues of capital investment in the supply and distribution of energy that need to be considered? |
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What are the key issues surrounding the development of Scotland’s bulk electricity transmission and local distribution systems? |
| Energy Demand |
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What will the impact of energy availability and price be on the demand for energy by commerce and industry in Scotland? |
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What are the likely trends in the domestic demand for energy for space heating and other purposes? What would need to be done to achieve major savings? What are the investment costs? |
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What are the likely trends in the demand for energy for transportation in Scotland? What is the likely time-scale and scope for substituting other power sources for fossil fuels? What are the likely investment costs? |
| Environmental and Social Issues |
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What are the environmental concerns that need to be taken into account, in terms of the impact on ecological and other natural resources, as well as waste management and impacts on the landscape? |
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Can the objectives of environment improvement and economic growth both be met without a major increase in energy costs? What steps should be taken to enable an informed debate on the issue? |
| - |
What are the social values and consequences of energy generation and distribution on employment opportunities, health, and energy affordability? |
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| Submissions |
Submissions should be made to the Inquiry by the end of September 2005, preferably by e-mail to: energy@royalsoced.org.uk
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| or by hard copy to: |
Dr Marc Rands,
The Royal Society of Edinburgh,
22-26 George Street,
Edinburgh
EH2 2PQ |
| As with previous RSE Inquiries, all written evidence submissions will be posted on the Society’s website following publication of the Committee’s report (and will be made available in hard copy, upon request), unless requested to be kept in confidence. |
| Funding |
| The Society is actively seeking funding from a broad range of individuals and private and charitable bodies to cover the cost of running the Inquiry. The RSE is most grateful that its Inquiry Committee Members are giving their time and expertise voluntarily. A full list of donors will be published with the Inquiry Report. |
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