Scotland’s direction ahead of Holyrood 2026
The climate debate is becoming more contested, with sharper contrasts emerging between parties such as Reform and the Scottish Greens. Yet public concern has not gone away. Ipsos has revealed that just over 20% of voters are expected to consider energy policy as a direct influence on their vote choice in the upcoming 2026 Holyrood elections. According to the Scottish Climate Survey, voters in Scotland remain worried about climate change, and this concern is even greater among younger voters. Evidently, the debate is shifting in tone, but the need for action is not.
The climate debate is becoming more contested, with sharper contrasts emerging between parties such as Reform and the Scottish Greens. Yet public concern has not gone away. Ipsos has revealed that just over 20% of voters are expected to consider energy policy as a direct influence on their vote choice in the upcoming 2026 Holyrood elections. According to the Scottish Climate Survey, voters in Scotland remain worried about climate change, and this concern is even greater among younger voters. Evidently, the debate is shifting in tone, but the need for action is not.
For the incoming government, the direction of travel is likely to remain broadly similar, with a continued focus on net zero by 2045. With this focus on energy policy, the cost-of-living crisis remains one of the most important issues influencing voting behaviour for the upcoming election, according to Ipsos Voting Intentions. For many households, the reality is simple: they cannot afford higher energy costs. Delaying action now will only make the long-term financial and environmental costs more severe for future generations.
Bringing communities on the journey
The way we talk about climate is changing. Meaningful democratic engagement will be critical in the strive to increase public support for energy generation and transmission infrastructure. The transition to renewable energy, and all the transmission infrastructure that comes with it, must be developed with communities by making stakeholder engagement a two-way street. This transition cannot be something that happens to communities. In the context of major infrastructure, if people feel developments are imposed on their community, trust erodes, and relationships between developers and communities break down.
The problem we see now is that, in the rush to scale up renewables, communities have not always been brought along on the journey of the development. At the event, Dr Dominic Hinde of the University of Glasgow outlined that, unlike in countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands, Scottish communities have not been brought “on board” by developers during renewable infrastructure engagement. When engagement is done meaningfully, it creates positive relationships between community members and the respective development to enhance advocacy. Dr Hinde highlighted that there is still time for developers in Scotland to turn this oppositional trend around through real, active and meaningful engagement.
Copper’s advocacy for communities to be actively engaged in a meaningful way, early in the development process, aligns with the recommendations of Dr Hinde. We understand that early engagement enables communities to feed directly into proposals and shape projects, in turn making them more receptive to the proposals. These simple steps, taken early on, are key to building relationships with community influencers that contribute to a smooth consenting process.
Scotland’s energy model: Community benefit vs ownership
Community benefit funds have helped enhance relationships between communities and developers. But some argue community benefit funds are no longer enough on their own and that community ownership may offer a stronger model. When people own a stake in the infrastructure, the return can be clearer and more tangible.
There are many examples of community ownership in practice. In Scotland, Orkney Islands Council holds shares in an offshore wind project, demonstrating how local authorities can capture value for residents. This is a positive way for the local authority to embrace the energy transition while enabling residents to economically benefit from it. But an issue for MSPs to ponder in the 2026 election remains: Scotland still lacks a strong national vehicle to systematically capture renewable wealth and return it to communities.
Greater devolution of power to councils could unlock more of these opportunities. If Scotland can develop a strong model of more locally driven energy production, that model itself could become one of its most valuable exports.
The cost of energy: Who pays?
Claire Mack OBE, Scottish Renewables’ Chief Executive, outlined the three main layers of cost:
- building the infrastructure itself
- accessing the network as a generator
- using the network as a consumer.
When brought together, the layers of cost put pressure on the consumer’s purse, and the higher electricity standing charges in Scotland are partly caused by how network costs are allocated. This ignites the question: should those who receive the energy pay more of the export infrastructure costs?
As renewable generation expands and transmission networks grow, decisions about who pays will become even more politically sensitive. Getting this balance right during the election campaign period is crucial to maintaining public support for political parties.
If people see turbines or solar panels on their horizon but still struggle to pay their bills, their connection to the energy infrastructure on their doorstep weakens. People must feel the benefits of the renewable energy they see, and the transition must feel fair as well as fast.
Skills, diversity and the Just Transition
The renewable sector promises jobs and economic growth, yet workforce and skills gaps remain. The offshore wind workforce, for example, is estimated to be about 80% male, and limited data is available across other technologies such as solar. Although progress in gender balance is being made by university graduates and broader employment trends, this is not yet reflected in the renewable energy workforce.
Part of a Just Transition is widening participation. Dr Hannah Salamon, of the University of Glasgow, highlighted that tapping into a more diverse workforce would enhance fairness and productivity. If the energy sector is to scale rapidly – across generation, grid expansion and new technologies – input from people with differing lived experiences is important to consider.
Expanding renewable power and grid capacity
Achieving net zero by 2045 is challenging but possible. We know that major expansion in renewable electricity generation will be central to achieving net zero by 2045. Increasing the volume of low-cost power in the system can help set lower wholesale prices, improving both affordability and energy security. But generation alone is not enough. Transmission infrastructure must expand alongside it. Without new grid capacity, clean power cannot reach homes or industry. Although these associated infrastructure needs are controversial, they are essential to reduce long-term costs and strengthen resilience, and this is what we need to communicate to communities.
Energy cost reduction does not only happen at a national level. But at the household level, there has been less focus on cost reduction through small-scale solar and battery storage. The panel explored the idea that, in theory, buying solar panels should be as straightforward as a trip to a local hardware store. Although in practice, it is a major upfront investment. More flexible “pay-as-you-go” or financing models could unlock wider participation and reduce bills over time for individual community members.
A people-centred approach to Scotland’s energy and climate transition
Climate policy cannot sit in isolation. Energy security policy somewhat functions within social policy. Their interconnected nature demands an industrial strategy that can deliver both economic and climate benefits.
Collaboration is as important as speed. We must ensure energy projects earn public trust and long-term support. Developers must engage communities early and meaningfully to give people genuine influence over proposals, build relationships with local influencers and ensure developments reflect community experience.
The question is no longer whether Scotland should act but how it can deliver renewable generation, modern grid infrastructure and fair cost allocation in a way that resonates with communities. Decisions taken now and through the next government will not only shape emissions targets but the kind of economy and society Scotland becomes. Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a lived reality.
If you would like to find out more about how the upcoming Scottish Parliamentary elections could impact your project, please contact Laura Sutherland, our Scotland Lead. We will shortly be releasing a briefing document that will help developers plan and act in the best interests of the organisation and the project. If you would like to receive a copy of this, please let Laura know.