Five Scottish Renewables 50 firms profiled

With its extensive coastlines, uninhabited hillsides and seemingly endless supply of wind, Scotland is exceptionally well-suited to play a leading role in the battle to limit the effects of climate change.

Hydro power has long provided a reliable source of green energy and the past few decades have seen a surge in the number of onshore and, most recently, offshore wind farm developments spring up across the country.

Scotland’s renewable electricity capacity has shown steady growth between 2009 and 2020 with an average annual capacity increase in excess of 700 megawatts (MW) since the end of 2009, according to industry data. In 2022, renewable capacity installed was up 1,621MW from 2021, marking the greatest increase in at least 15 years.

Onshore wind remains the nation’s largest renewable electricity source, making up roughly 62 per cent of installed capacity, with major sites including ScottishPower’s vast 539MW Whitelee Wind Farm on Eaglesham moor, featuring more than 200 turbines.

The last few years have seen installed offshore capacity increase rapidly thanks to Scotland possessing some of Europe’s strongest offshore wind resources. A number of key projects are in the pipeline.

In July, Ocean Winds, a joint venture between EDP Renewables and Engie, secured consent from the Scottish government for its two-gigawatt Caledonia offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth that could power the equivalent of two million homes. Offshore construction is expected to begin in 2030, subject to the project securing a crucial contracts for difference (CfD) agreement and reaching a final investment decision thereafter.

The growing capacity of renewables north of the Border has translated into a significant increase in renewable electricity output, which has more than quadrupled from 8,003GWh in 2007 to 32,063GWh in 2020.

Industry figures for 2022 show that wind accounted for almost 80 per cent of all renewable electricity output in Scotland. Hydropower, meanwhile, contributed some 12 per cent of renewable output.

While other technologies such as biomass and marine energy - wind and tidal power - currently make a smaller contribution, they have massive potential for growth.

In addition, many of the skillsets associated with the oil and gas sector - electrical engineering, welding and construction, for example - apply directly to the likes of wind, hydrogen and carbon capture.

Aurora Energy Services

Inverness-headquartered Aurora Energy Services supports the energy sector transition to net zero and specialises in the onshore and offshore wind, hydropower, telecoms and infrastructure and waste-to-energy sectors, while also providing oil and gas project support and engineering services. The company now employs some 750 staff globally, and aims to create a £300 million-plus turnover business in the next five years. Aurora is helping to tackle a skills shortage in the renewable energy sector by training military service leavers to be “site ready”.

STATS (UK)

Aberdeenshire pipeline technology specialist STATS Group forms part of Japanese company Mitsui & Co following a 2023 takeover agreement. The firm’s leadership team brings together deep technical knowledge honed across decades in the global energy sector. STATS has grown from a small Kintore-based specialist to a global leader with bases around the world. The group continues to navigate the energy transition and expand its global footprint while staying true to the values and engineering excellence that got it where it is today.

Craig International

Based in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, global procurement specialist Craig International is a member of shipping and energy services holding company Craig Group. Now serving all industries, Craig International originated in the energy industry, mastering a range of procurement processes. In recent times, the company has invested a seven-figure sum to bolster its sustainable business practices as it steps up efforts to decarbonise its operations and align with global net zero targets. This has included moving into a million-pound energy-efficient HQ.

SSE

Perth-headquartered power giant SSE is at the heart of Britain’s energy revolution. The FTSE-100 giant, which comprises seven business units, is behind a £33 billion five-year investment programme that promises to help transform the UK’s electricity infrastructure. The group’s various businesses are engaged in onshore and offshore wind supply, hydro power, flexible thermal generation, solar and battery technologies, electricity transmission and distribution, and localised energy systems. SSE Group also provides energy products and services to businesses and other customers.

NEO NEXT+ Energy

With its HQ in Aberdeen, the company was formed following a merger combining NEO Energy, Repsol Resources UK and TotalEnergies’ UK upstream business. The group has a string of assets in the North Sea and is strongly positioned to grow both through further M&A activity and by developing the existing projects in its portfolio. The firm is proposing the construction and deployment of a floating offshore wind turbine at its existing Culzean platform in the central areas of the North Sea.