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The National Electricity Supply expires on 31 March 2026, the framework has 3 optional 12 month extensions.

Variations to the framework can be made, however these must be in accordance with procurement law and be non-material changes and in agreement with the Supplier.

All 32 local authorities use the national Framework for the Supply of Electricity, however if local authorities are also getting electricity from another source or another contract, then Scottish Government do not have visibility of this and this information would only be available from each individual local authority.

There is no mandate for (a) local authorities or (b) other public sector organisations that are generating power, to sell that power to Scottish Government or the appointed contractor under the National Electricity Framework.

Ofgem administer a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme where renewable electricity can be fed into the grid. Customers can apply for a SEG tariff, where their generating system meets the SEG eligibility requirements.

EDF (the current framework supplier for electricity) have a SEG licence to facilitate this service.

This or any other arrangement a local authority or public sector organisation puts in place to sell power and find the best price in the open market, is outside the terms and conditions of the electricity framework. However, a local authority or public sector organisation can have an export arrangement in place and remain part of the wider portfolio.

The total electricity use provided for in the electricity supply framework is determined by the estimated consumption of all framework customers. This is currently estimated at 2,293, 227MWh (megawatt hours) with a value of £686.7m, which will vary each year, depending on customer consumption.

The Scottish Government has not made a recent assessment of the legislative requirement for Crown Estate Scotland to obtain market value in its transactions. An assessment is not required under the Scottish Crown Estate Act 2019.

Within the National Electricity Supply Framework no power is procured from community – owned energy providers.

The framework has been set up to supply electricity to all of the Scottish Public sector. The supplier on the framework is required to purchase power on the futures market through a risk managed hedging strategy. The strategy is owned by a Risk Management Committee who represent all of the main Public Sector bodies.

The framework supplier needs to ensure it has the capacity to secure forward purchases on behalf of all framework customers. The supplier also needs to account manage each individual customer organisation including billing, invoicing, meter reading queries, complaints, energy efficiency queries, and social value programmes within the framework. As well as managing the consumption for over 30,000 meters for electricity that are part of the portfolio. Therefore, the supplier needs to have capacity to trade large volumes and achieve Value For Money for the whole Scottish public sector.

We committed to publishing the Green Industrial Strategy in summer 2024. The strategy was published on 11 September, following summer recess and the launch of the 2023-24 Programme for Government.

The strategy aims to ensure Scotland gets the maximum possible economic benefit from the opportunities created by the global transition to net zero and we are already getting on with delivering across the five opportunity areas, and wider system enablers identified in the strategy. For example, the Scottish Government is driving forward the recommendations of the First Minister’s Investor Panel to attract global capital investment around the physical infrastructure needed to achieve our energy transition. On skills, funding has been allocated to support industry-led development of the energy skills passport; to create an energy transition skills hub in Aberdeen; and launch a pilot scheme with the National Energy Skills Accelerator to determine the skills required for an energy transition. The new Planning Hub will strengthen capacity and accelerate decision making, with an initial focus on hydrogen applications.

A decision on Berwick Bank will be taken by Ministers in due course. We cannot comment on a live application but we are committed to a robust decision making process for offshore wind farms which considers the need for development alongside potential impacts to the marine environment and marine users.

The Green Industrial Strategy recognises ports are key enablers for the energy transition. Ports have a critical role to play in supporting the growth of Scotland’s offshore wind sector and growing our hydrogen production and export capabilities, which are two of the five priority opportunity areas identified in the strategy.

The Scottish Government is engaging and collaborating with ports on the opportunities from offshore wind and engaging with key industry bodies including the recently formed Scottish Offshore Wind Ports Alliance (SOWPA) and the British Ports Association’s Scottish Ports Group.

The Scottish Government is working closely with both Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and Forth Green Freeport which will play a crucial role in our commitment to a just transition to net zero, by creating clusters of high-tech manufacturing excellence in low carbon sectors, including offshore wind and renewable hydrogen.

The Green Industrial Strategy recognises ports are key enablers for the energy transition. Ports have a critical role to play in supporting the growth of Scotland’s offshore wind sector and accelerating investment in related infrastructure, manufacturing and fabrication. Ports will also play a key role in growing the hydrogen sector to facilitate the export of hydrogen and hydrogen products to external markets in the UK and in Northern Europe. Both Wind and Hydrogen are priority opportunity areas identified in the GIS.