1 Introduction
1.1 THE SCOTTISH ENERGY STUDY
The Scottish Energy Study is the first major study of energy supply and demand to be conducted in Scotland for over a decade. The aim in producing this study is to supply the Scottish Executive with a coherent picture of the energy flows into and out of Scotland, including details of energy supply and consumption across all of the energy demand sectors.
The study's objectives are to:
- Provide the Scottish Executive with an up-to-date picture of the energy scene in Scotland that can be used as a basis for the development of a coherent strategy for carbon savings in the country.
- Inform Scottish Executive policy-making in a number of key areas including the Scottish Climate Change Programme, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable development. As well as assessing the opportunities for a more efficient supply and use of energy, potential contributions to the environment and energy-related economic development will also be determined.
- Provide a framework in which the Scottish Executive can support the UK Government's efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption.
- Identify the scope for reducing environmental impacts arising from the production, conversion, distribution and use of energy and make recommendations for the most cost-effective implementation.
1.2 THIS REPORT
This report compares the results of the Energy Study from 2002 (presented in Volume 1) with data for energy supply and demand in Scotland in 1990. The main source of these data is a study produced by AHS Emstar, which was published in 1993 and presents an analysis of data for 1989/90.
Details of the collection methodologies and reporting conventions used for the earlier AHS study are not available. Even if they were, it is highly likely that they would differ from the approach used to provide the 2002 energy data. Hence, the appendix to this report includes details of how these two sets of information needed to be interpreted or adjusted, to allow meaningful comparisons to be made.
IMPORTANT NOTE : Because of these different approaches, the comparisons between 1990 and 2002 cannot be treated as wholly robust, so care needs to be exercised when using these results.