Energy

OUR ENERGY INDUSTRY

The region's strong legacy in the oil and gas industry, and abundance of renewable energy resources, mean it is ideally placed to be at the forefront of the energy industry.

Here you can find out about ground-breaking work many local companies are involved in, from research and development to full-scale test facilities. It's also where you'll find the latest news and analysis from the energy sector plus full coverage of the markets we work in.

Employment in the energy sector stood at 69,000 in 2020, accounting for 2.7% of employment in Scotland and 20.8% of employment in energy across Great Britain. In 2019, total turnover in the sector was £39bn and totalled £19bn.

For the Highlands and Islands, the transition to net zero represents a very significant economic, social and industrial opportunity. Our oil and gas industry will continue to play a key role in supplying energy, but will also provide the skills and expertise to support our transition to a highly productive, net zero future. Low carbon and renewable energy are both fast-growing areas of opportunity and significant contributors to Scotland’s economy. A sustainable and successful energy sector in the Highlands and Islands will underpin wider regional economic growth.

PIONEERING THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY REVOLUTION

Overall, the region has become a world leader in the development and production of renewable energy, particularly offshore.

It has already amassed a strong, knowledgeable supply chain of complementary companies that can conceive, devise, test, manufacture, install, operate, distribute and support renewable energy technology - from research to full-scale commercial implementation. Here are just some of the many pioneering initiatives in this exciting sector:

• The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) is based in Orkney. Developers from all over the world are able to test prototype wave and tidal devices in ideal conditions.
• High above the southwestern tip of Loch Ness, the UK’s largest hydro scheme for 30 years is in place at Glendoe.
• On 13 January 2023, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport was selected by the Scottish and UK Governments to become one of Scotland’s first Green Freeports.
• SIMEC Atlantis' MeyGen project is the world's largest tidal stream array project and is located in the Pentland Firth. The company has plans to grow the project significantly in the coming years. 
• The region is home to the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm - A £2.6bn project comprising 84 turbines and producing 588MW of electricity - enough to power around 450,000 homes. The first power was delivered in 2018 and the project is now fully operational.
• Several hundred businesses across the Highlands and Islands are active in the energy industry, including electrical installers, crane hire, haulage, civil engineering, environmental consultants and many more. These projects and companies contribute to a healthy, dynamic supply chain, which in turn lends itself to economic growth and employment across the region.
• ScotWind is the first round of offshore wind leasing in Scottish waters for a decade. In January 2022, it resulted in 20 projects securing seabed option agreements with an expected capacity of just under 25GW.

HIE SUPPORT

We can help you to find opportunities, and sources of funding, in order to allow your business to grow and develop.

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