SSE has submitted six proposals to inform the Scottish Government’s emerging “Energy Strategy” which looks to ‘optimise Scotland’s significant energy resources and expertise, de-carbonise its energy system, and put communities at the heart of new investment’.
We employ around 7,000 people in Scotland while supporting a further 10,000 jobs through our business operations. Having contributed more than £7billion to the Scottish economy over the past five years, we plan to invest a further £6 billion in the years to 2020. A significant proportion of our future investment programme is allocated to large-scale Scottish infrastructure projects including the Caithness – Moray Electricity Transmission line, onshore wind farm projects across Scotland and the 588MW Beatrice offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth.
Maintaining a GB-wide energy market is central to SSE’s position on the future of energy in Scotland. Also in the strategy paper, submitted to the Scottish Government and published today, are proposals to:
- decarbonise heat use in Scotland by increasing the use of district heating systems;
- improve the stock of electric storage heaters to aid in the decarbonisation of heat;
- build on the success of onshore wind in Scotland through repowering and extending existing sites;
- maximise opportunities in large-scale pumped storage projects;
- support community investment and ownership in energy projects; and
- help tackle household fuel poverty through improved energy efficiency measures.
The Scottish Government’s new energy strategy comes at the right time and can help enable Scotland to maximise benefits from innovation, cost reductions and new technologies. This could mean major improvements for the energy system and make a positive difference to energy consumers across Scotland. In its submission, SSE has outlined proposals intended to support the Scottish Government and devise a strategy that optimises energy resources, de-carbonises Scotland’s energy system, and puts customers and communities at the heart of new investment.
SSE understands it has a responsibility to the customers and communities it serves but with the energy system in Great Britain facing unprecedented changes, the Scottish Government’s strategy needs to be enduring and robust if it is to meet its stated objective of plotting an energy course for Scotland out to 2050. With a track record of investing heavily in the GB energy market, SSE is ready to play its part in that journey.
As a GB and Ireland based utility, and provider of an essential service, SSE invests in a responsible way. It was an early adopter of the Living Wage and is leading the way by championing the Living Wage throughout its substantial supply chain. It is Fair Tax Mark accredited and over the past three years its renewable energy projects have contributed almost £10million to community benefit funding across Scotland alone.
The full document can be viewed here.