Scottish Energy Advisory Board: terms of reference

Background 

The Scottish Energy Advisory Board was established in 2009 and acts as a forum for driving progress towards the Scottish Government’s priorities of tackling the climate emergency and growing the economy. 

Aims

The Scottish Energy Advisory Board (the board) will be a forum for active engagement between the Scottish Government and key energy stakeholders, to:

• support the delivery of the Scottish Government’s complementary priorities of tackling the climate emergency and growing Scotland’s economy
• inform the Scottish Government’s engagement on UK Government led energy policies (such as market reforms, Clean Power 2030, and GB-wide strategic energy system planning) to ensure these align with Scottish Government’s strategic interests

Central to the operation of the board is a private and public sector partnership which is dedicated to understanding the issues facing Scotland’s energy sector; clearly vocalising the Scottish view on these issues; and focussing on outcomes for the people and industry of Scotland. 

The board will also have regard to maximising the benefits of the energy transition to the people and communities of Scotland. 

Structures 

The Scottish Energy Advisory Board provides strategic direction and oversight of its Strategic Leadership Groups (SLGs) with their respective objectives. The board and its Strategic Leadership Groups will support each other to identify and remove barriers in key areas of the energy transition. 

The objectives of the board and the structure of the reporting Strategic Leadership Groups will be monitored regularly and reviewed approximately every two years. 

2025 to 2026 objectives 

The board’s objectives for 25-26 are: 

• work in partnership with the Scottish Government to drive delivery of tangible progress towards the Scottish Government’s core priorities of tackling the climate emergency and growing the green economy
• take a leadership role in the energy transition, providing strategic level collaboration and communication to identify and remove barriers in key areas of the energy transition
• develop and, as appropriate, implement actions to deliver progress with a particular focus on addressing the climate emergency, supply chains, investment, equalities, fairness and community participation, as well as sector-specific outcomes
• facilitate a sector wide and cross-cutting response to emerging national energy challenges

Working practices

The Scottish Energy Advisory Board will be co-chaired by the First Minister and Sir Jim McDonald, Chair of Scottish Enterprise.

The secretariat function will be provided by the Scottish Government. 

The default position is for the board to hold in person meetings. 

The agenda will be constructed by the board secretariat in consultation with the co-chairs. 

Minutes will be published on the Scottish Government website when in final agreed form. Exceptions to this may arise on occasion, with the agreement of the board co-chairs. Notwithstanding this approach, the Scottish Government, as with other public sector bodies, remains subject to Freedom of Information legislation which will apply to all information held about the work of the board. 

Membership 

The board will contain representatives from key organisations and areas including: 

• academia 
• industry 
• trade bodies (such as Scottish Renewables and Offshore Energies UK) 
• enterprise agencies 
• STUC (representing trade unions) 
• energy generators and network companies 
• consumer and community groups 
• Scottish National Investment Bank 

Only members in their professional capacity may attend meetings. However, if unable to attend, members are able to nominate a deputy from their organisation on their behalf, with the secretariat’s agreement. 

Links across government 

Given the cross-cutting nature of the energy transition and the importance of collaboration and alignment to deliver ambitions, the Scottish Energy Advisory Board will also receive updates from related Scottish Government and industry forums such as the: 

• Financial Services Growth and Development Board 
• Scottish Hydrogen Industry Forum 
• governance structures for the Green Industrial Strategy

Scottish Energy Advisory Board - terms of reference.pdf

File type

3 page PDF

File size

441.8 kB