The 14th Edge Debate: 9th May 2002

UK's (Scotland's?) Energy Policy - making waves, blowing in the wind or just going up in smoke?

The Government's Policy and Innovation Unit's review of UK energy policy is the hot topic of the moment. It offers a vision of the energy needs of the future, in terms of technologies, efficiency gains, and economic frameworks. There will be a commercially strong and emerging role for renewables, where many see Scotland as having a major role to play. Yet the PIU review keeps options open on coal and nuclear power- a UK Government reserved matter - as part of its view of the low carbon future. Does this amount to a secure and sustainable energy policy? Are there things the energy industry and other key industrial sectors could be doing to make it more secure and sustainable? A white paper is promised in the autumn: the Edge Debate will be an opportunity to rehearse our responses.

There were three eminent speakers whom were able to flesh out the range of opinion that appeared to exist. They were:

Paper 1: Energy Issues for Scotland

Rhona Brankin - MSP and Member of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee

Paper 2: Energy Policy - Some Thoughts

Fred Dinning - Environment Director, Scottish Power

Paper 3: The King is Dead, Long Live the King!

Professor Brian Smart - Heriot Watt Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Edinburgh

Louise Batchelor of the BBC chaired the Debate.

SISTech was also responsible for chairing the seminar "Rethinking Urban Design".