Draft energy strategy and Just Transition plan: consultation analysis

Introduction

Background and context to the consultation

The draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan sets out the Scottish Government’s vision for Scotland's energy system to 2045 and a route map of ambitions and actions that, coupled with detailed sectoral plans and the forthcoming Climate Change Plan, will guide decision-making and policy support over the course of this decade.

The consultation on the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan provided an opportunity for the general public to engage in the process of designing Scotland’s energy transition. In consulting on this draft vision and route map, the Scottish Government aimed to:

• seek views on its vision and the actions they are taking to transition to an affordable, resilient and clean energy system.
• understand how they can secure the maximum social and economic benefits from the energy transition for Scotland.

Consultation format and structure

The Scottish Government’s consultation on its draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan was hosted on the Scottish Government’s Citizen Space portal and consisted of 58 questions. The Scottish Government also accepted responses provided via email or post. The consultation opened on 10 January 2023 and closed on 9 May 2023, with 1,598 responses to the consultation being received in total. Questions were organised under the following thematic chapters:

• Chapter 1: Introduction and vision
• Chapter 2: Preparing for a Just Energy Transition
• Chapter 3: Energy supply
• Chapter 4: Energy demand
• Chapter 5: Creating the conditions for a net zero energy system
• Chapter 6: Route map to 2045
• Impact assessment questions
• Just Transition energy outcomes
• Strategic Environmental Assessment

Respondents were advised that they did not have to answer all questions, with respondents being welcome to respond only to the questions and sections of the report that are relevant to them. A full list of the consultation questions mapped to each thematic chapter heading is summarised in Appendix 1.

About this report

This report has been prepared by Alma Economics on behalf of the Scottish Government and provides an independent analysis of responses to the public consultation on the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.