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Scotland, Renewable Energy and the Independence Debate: Will Head or Heart Rule the Roost?

This article was the first academic output arising from an Economic and Social Research Council grant Delivering Renewable Energy Under Devolution (RES-062-23-2526). The value of the grant was £217,416. The research jointly undertaken with the University of Cardiff, University of Birmingham, Queens University Belfast and the Robert Gordon University examined how the devolved governments of the UK – in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – have influenced the development of renewable energy. The project collected interview data from 75 senior figures in government, industry and environmental groups, and was supported by documentary analysis. Initial findings have been presented in two major reports which were disseminated by four seminars across the United Kingdom. One of these was hosted by the influential Parliamentary Renewables and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG) in London. The Political Quarterly paper examined important dimensions of the research further (such as planning) and considered how Scottish independence may affect Scotland’s ambitions for renewable energy deployment. This article generated significant media coverage including from the Guardian, The Scotsman, and websites such as AllEnergy news. From this, team members have been invited to present in Belfast (NI Energy Forum, and the Irish Planning Institute), Dublin (Irish Renewable Energy Summit) and Pontypridd (Regional Studies Association).