Scotland's Green Industrial Strategy explained

But will green jobs and investment replace the riches fossil fuels has delivered – and does the strategy provide scope to grasp the opportunities?  

Here’s a lowdown on what’s proposed.  

What’s the background?  

The Green Industrial strategy was promised as part of the SNP’s programme for government, and lays out the next steps of the ‘just transition’ from oil and gas as well as the steps needed for industry to adapt to an environmentally-conscious  future.  

Ministers say it offers a route to creating highly-skilled, well-paid jobs with economic and social value which will offer opportunities across our country. 

They have pledged to focus on creating “the conditions for good green growth”, building on Scotland’s strengths and removing the barriers to investment and success. 

What are the key points?  

Five priority areas have been set out - Maximising Scotland’s wind economy, growing the hydrogen sector, developing the carbon capture, utilisation and storage sector, supporting green economy professional and financial services, and attracting clean energy intensive industries, such as datacentres.  

A range of specific actions have been announced including hosting a wind investment forum next spring, working with the sector to develop hubs of hydrogen production and demand and working with public and private partners to drive investment in key projects. 

A general view of the Grangemouth oil refinery on the Firth of Forth (Image: PA)

Are there any specifics?  

There is a “massive opportunity” for the Grangemouth industrial cluster after the oil refinery there closes next year, the Scottish Government’s acting Net Zero Secretary said. 

Gillian Martin said discussions are ongoing around the future of the site, but decisions have not yet been made on what other industries could be hosted there. 

There are concerns for hundreds of jobs after owner Petroineos – a joint venture between PetroChina and Ineos – announced the oil refinery at Grangemouth would be shut after spring next year. 

She said: “I would say there’s a massive opportunity for Grangemouth as an industrial cluster.” 

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What else has been said?  

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said the “global transition to net zero provides opportunities across every part of our economy”. 

“The Green Industrial Strategy spells out where we believe the greatest opportunities lie, and where we will focus our attention and resources,” she said. 

“It provides certainty for businesses – both at home and abroad – by demonstrating where and how we will work to reduce barriers to investment and, where appropriate, share risk and reward.” 

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes during a visit to drone manufacturer Flowcopter in Loanhead, to mark the publication of the Scottish Government's Green Industrial Strategy (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA)

And what do business think?  

Cautious optimism - Mags Simpson, Interim CBI Scotland Director, said: “Firms across the country will welcome the publication of the Green Industrial Strategy as a key marker for capitalising on the economic opportunities afforded by the net zero transition and as a strong signal of confidence in Scotland’s green economy.    

“The strategy will not only help to build on Scotland’s incredible legacy in offshore and onshore wind but will give focus and impetus to developing growth sectors like CCUS and hydrogen.    

“Firms will however want to see more in terms of how this aligns with other key net zero plans and strategies, both within Scotland and across the UK – like the yet to be published Energy and Just Transition Plan.”    

And what do the Scottish Greens say?  

Not everyone’s happy with the strategy; Scottish Greens Co-leader Lorna Slater said the strategy sets a “worrying direction for Scotland”. 

She added: “They are making the wrong choices. The focus on carbon capture technologies is a huge mis-step, and represents a significant shift since the Scottish Greens were in Government.

"These are experimental technologies, any role that they have to play in our journey to net-zero will be very limited in both time and scope, and they’re a long way yet from being truly green technologies.”