Scottish Government funded “just transition” projects: EIR release
- Published
- 11 February 2026
- Directorate
- Energy and Climate Change Directorate
- Topic
- Energy, Public sector
- FOI reference
- FOI/202500496802
- Date received
- 3 December 2025
- Date responded
- 11 December 2025
Information request and response under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004
Information requested
Can I please request the following information under Freedom of Information legislation:
1. A list of Scottish Government-funded “just transition” projects that have been cancelled, delayed, or underspent in from 2019-20 to 2024-25.
2. For each project, please provide (where held):
- 1. project name
- 2. funding allocated
- 3. funding spent
- 4. reason for cancellation, delay, or underspend.
Response
Please find below a detailed breakdown of projects financed by the Just Transition Fund which have either been cancelled, delayed, or under-spent. It is important to note that all funds disbursed to date through the Just Transition Fund encompass academic institutions, third sector entities (including charities, social enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations), as well as local authorities.
|
Category |
Recipient/Organisation |
Project |
Description |
Funding Duration |
Total Initial funding Given/Award |
Total Actual Funds Spent |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
2025-26 |
Reason for underspend |
|
Underspend |
Moray Council |
Just Transition Masterplan – Moray Council |
Five interlinked projects to support Moray’s journey away from fossil fuels, including projects to support offshorerenewables, creation of local hydrogen economy, natural capital approach to offsetting, and redeveloping derelict land and premises. |
2022 - 2024 |
£881 k |
£638,983.30 |
£250,544.62 |
£388,438.68 |
|
|
Organisation/council unable to utilise the full allocated funding within the specified timeframe. |
|
Underspend |
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire,and Moray Councils |
NESS Carbon CaptureFe asibility Study |
Study to determine if there is a viable project to retrofit carbon capture systems to the NESS energy facility. |
2022 - 2023 |
£100k |
£96,750 |
£96,750 |
|
|
|
Project was able to be successfully completed at a cost below the initially anticipated funding request. |
|
Underspend |
Social Investment Scotland |
Social Enterprise Just Transition Fund |
Delivery of a blended finance approach(part loan/part grant) focused on supporting charities and social enterprises to transition to net zero. |
2022 - 2024 |
£1.5 million |
£1,016,085 |
£488,085 |
£528,000 |
|
|
Due to reduced demand / less projects supported in 2023-24 |
|
Underspend |
University of the Highlandsand Islands (UHI Moray) |
Moray Net ZeroBot tlenecks |
Collaborative study focused on the current and future skills requirements and labour supply chain bottlenecks in Moray as it transitions to Net Zero |
2022 - 2024 |
£210,000 |
£181,789.79 |
£41,596.47 |
£140,193.32 |
|
|
Project being able to be delivered for less than originallyawarded. |
|
Underspend |
Energy Skills Passport |
OPITO |
Development and deployment of a digital offshore energy skills passport to support the transition of skills and jobs across the rapidly changing industry. |
2022 -2024 |
£4,996,100 |
£3,703,609.57 |
£1,871,967.88 |
£1,831,641.69 |
|
|
Project was originally allocated £4.9 million. Underspend resulted from delays and slippages in delivery, driven in part by challenges OPITO encountered in gaining the support of broader industry stakeholders. |
|
Underspend |
Opportunity North East |
North East Adventure Tourism |
Project to transform the region into a world class destination for adventure tourism by facilitating the development of high quality, sustainable facilities and low carbon infrastructure. |
2022 -2024 |
£2.097 million |
£1,690,674.13 |
£397,000 |
£1,293,674.13 |
|
|
Delays in completing the Organisations; Gravitate North East project due to challenges in developing the project sustainably, compounded by construction delays caused by weather and natural environmental factors. |
|
Underspend & Extended |
Findhorn, Nairn, and Lossie Rivers Trust |
Findhorn WatershedRiverwoods Pilot |
Habitat restoration of the Findhorn watershed, beginning with an unbroken network of riparian woodland along its riverbanks, supporting the restoration of Wild Atlantic Salmon populations. |
2022 - 2025 |
£970,000 |
£890,908.45 |
£139,972.45 |
£434,098 |
£316,838 |
|
Originally funded from 2022-24 but extended to finish March 2025. Underspend due to planned woodland planting scheme which was unable to be agreed and delivered within time available. |
|
Extended |
Energy Transition Skills Hub (formerly Advanced Manufacturing Skills Hub) |
Energy Transition Zone Ltd |
The Skills Hub will be a focal point of the Energy Transition Zone Skills Campus and will aim to deliver the skills and training needed to support net zero transition. |
2022 - 2024 |
£4.5 million |
N/A |
£1,180,000 |
£470,000 |
£2,850,000 |
|
Originally funded from 2022-24 but extended to finish March 2025. |
|
Extended |
HydroGlen |
The James Hutton Institute |
Green hydrogen farming pilot to acquire new knowledge to switch from increasingly high levels of fuel poverty to self-reliant, net-zero carbon energy producers in rural communities. |
2022 - 2026 |
£6,968,203.94 |
N/A |
£262,270 |
£1,248,412.94 |
£1,987,031 |
£3,470,490 |
Originally funded from 2022-25 but extended to finish March 2026. Extension was due to wind turbine supply chain delays. |
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Contact
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Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
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