The Scottish government proposes to make the fastest possible transition from oil and gas extraction to green energy, writes the Financial Times.

The self-governing British province's new energy strategy prioritizes an accelerated shift to wind power and green hydrogen.

The ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) said on Tuesday that its draft energy strategy contained plans against new oil and gas exploration and that stricter environmental tests should be applied to the development of already licensed fields.

The proposal marks the most significant signal of opposition between Edinburgh's rulers and the oil and gas sector, whose revenue was once thought to help secure financial independence. 

Michael Matheson, energy and climate secretary, said that while workers in the sector needed a just transition, forecasts of declining production in the UK's North Sea meant the focus on renewables needed to grow.

The oil and gas industry plays an important role in our economy and has been part of our national identity for decades, Matheson said. 

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said ahead of the publication of the document, which will be open to consultation for four months, that it was necessary to accelerate the transition to clean energy and reduce Scotland's dependence on oil and gas.

These intentions are likely to be resisted by industry, which argues that fossil fuels will remain essential to the UK's energy supply.

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In a statement, the industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said it welcomed the commitment to developing a Scottish hydrogen economy but was concerned by the proposal to accelerate restrictions on oil and gas production. .

We must ensure that the final strategy recognizes the continued role of oil and gas in Scotland's energy security and economy, OEUK added.

Against this backdrop, Energy Secretary Matheson said that regardless of the climate imperative, independent research shows that oil and gas production from Scottish waters will decline significantly in the coming years due to the long development of the North Sea basin and the low likelihood of significant new discoveries.

By 2035, production could fall to just a third of 2019 levels and by 2050 remain just 3 percent of the 1999 peak, the government said.

The draft document confirms the government's support for expanding onshore wind generation to 20 gigawatts by 2030 from 8.8 gigawatts today, while targeting 8-11 GW of offshore wind in Scottish waters.

The government has also outlined its target of 5 gigawatts of (green) hydrogen production from renewable sources by 2030.

green energy

Scotland