How energy is used in Scotland

If we consider energy consumption in Scotland in its broadest terms, one use dominates – heat energy, see chart below.

Due to our geographical position, there is a much greater need for heating north of the border. On most days, there is a significant difference in temperatures between the south of England and those experienced here in the Highlands and Islands. As a result, per head of population in Scotland we consume more energy than the UK as a whole. Scots may account for only 8.5 per cent of the UK population but we consume 9.1 per cent of all the energy.

In fact, around a quarter of all electricity in Scotland is used for heating, the equivalent of five per cent of the total delivered energy.

Because of these realities, energy conservation, insulation retrofits, dramatically improved building design and domestic power generation will all be an integral part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland. Indeed, if we are to meet our obligations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it has been estimated that we as a society will have to cut our energy demands by more than a third.

Meanwhile, over a quarter of Scotland’s total energy requirement is consumed by transport. And, with the exception of the pure energy used in hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles, virtually all forms of transport produce greenhouse gases to a larger or smaller extent.

Given the size of the transport sector in Scotland, it is imperative that action is taken to reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing these emissions has no clear cut answer but will involve targets for greater uptake of biofuels (renewable fuels made from biomass) and improvements in public transport.

The motor manufacturing industry, too, will have a crucial part in pushing ahead with environmentally-friendly vehicle designs and power trains. A small but significant contribution in cutting transport energy needs may also be possible by wider use of remote working and video conferencing via high speed broadband connections. Adoption of new ways of working made possible by our existing broadband technology can make considerable in-roads in reducing the amount of business travel.

Finally, we will need to find ways of curbing the huge increases in demand for air travel, which has very high carbon dioxide emissions.

Energy used chart

HEAT: 53%
TRANSPORT: 27%
ELECTRICITY: 15%
ELECTRICITY AS HEAT: 5%

In 2002 Scotland consumed the equivalent of 175TWh of delivered energy and in the process emitted 45 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtC02).

Per head of the population Scotland consumed more energy than the UK populations as a whole. The Scottish population makes up 8.5% of the UK total but consumes 9.1% of all energy.

This reflects the greater need for heating north of the border and greater than average oil refining.

Around a quarter of all electricity in Scotland is used for heating, amounting to 5% of total delivered energy.

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