SCOTLAND should develop its competitive advantage in green energy, which could be an “important part” of the economic case for independence, according to economists.
Experts at Edinburgh Napier University say the country’s wind power could also be presented as a benefit when it comes to potentially rejoining the European Union.
New figures published last month revealed 97.4% of electricity was generated from renewable sources in Scotland last year.
A target of 100% was narrowly missed – although that was set in 2011, when renewable energy such as wind and hydro generated just 37% of national demand.
Dr Kenny Crossan, lecturer in economics at Edinburgh Napier University, argued more could be done to harness the economic benefits of renewables.
An article which he co-authored, published on The Conversation website, states: “As Glasgow gets ready to host the COP26 climate conference in November, Scotland’s competitive advantage in green energy ought to be an important part of the economic case for independence if and when the second referendum takes place.”
He told the Sunday National: “If we actually did want this to be a competitive advantage for Scotland, it would have to go further than just generating the electricity and storing it, it would have to be about the underlying technology.
“So for this to be really important to our economy, we would have to be building the infrastructure, developing the infrastructure and innovating the infrastructure.
“We are lagging a little bit behind on that, we are using other countries’ technology rather than our own.
“You could be exporting it across the globe. But we really need to be investing in the infrastructure side if we are going to be key players and it is going to be something that helps us balance our deficit.”
He added: “It is not just infrastructure in Scotland – it is doing the infrastructure for other countries as well.
“If we are going to lead on this, we become the experts and we go around Europe showing them how to do it.”
Crossan argued this should include building technical expertise from the “bottom up”, with university courses and apprenticeships, and ensuring that turbines could be built in Scotland rather than overseas.
He said green energy could be a key area for growth in the economy alongside others such as life sciences, financial services, food and drink, tourism and education.
While it was not the “answer” to leaving the UK or joining the EU, it could soften the impact of any disruption.
“It is not going to be the pill that solves any problem, but if we do well in those other four or five sectors and add in another world class sector, it enhances the chances of Scotland doing well, reducing the deficit and being able to join the EU if we did leave the United Kingdom and being a successful country economically,” he added.
The article also outlines how green energy would be of “mutual interest” to Scotland and the EU. It points out Scotland has the most favourable conditions for wind power in Europe and rejoining would help the EU meet its goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
“Scotland’s wind power capacity is comparable with Italy and below only Germany, Spain and France,” the article states.
“But more importantly, 97% of internal energy consumption in Scotland originates from renewables. The EU member with the highest green energy consumption is Sweden, with less than 60%. The EU total is only around 20%, so Scotland would immediately raise this share.”
Dr Piotr Jaworski, also a lecturer in economics at Napier University, who co-authored the article, said Scotland’s green energy should be publicised so that it is known in the same way as the oil industry.
He said: “I would say this is our advantage which we should really present if we want to join the [European] Union, show why they would want us.
“This is one of the arguments which could show it is not only beneficial for Scotland, but also it could also be beneficial for the [European] Union and the [European] Union could have interests in getting Scotland in with these particular resources.”
ONSHORE wind delivers around 70% of Scotland’s renewable power, followed by hydro and offshore wind.
By 2030, a target has been set for renewable energy generation to account for 50% of energy demand across electricity, heat and transport.
Jaworski cautioned that while Scotland could produce energy to be sent elsewhere, the costs of building the connections to deliver it elsewhere could be very high.
“We can produce the energy, but we need to deliver it,” he said. “So we need to be a part of the integrated network not only with Britain, but especially with the [European] Union and we would need to think how to do it.”
But he said with Scotland already having expertise in engineering, particularly in the field of fluid dynamics, it should be possible to “lead the world in many different ways”.
He added: “No matter what the decision is about independence or joining the EU, this is the issue for which Scotland could have a huge competitive advantage.”
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