There are some very good GIS data websites that helps analyse oil and gas information in the United States. US Land Grid – http://www.uslandgrid.com – provides good information from a landgrid, tax parcels, oil and gas well, and land maps for oil and gas.

Our intention is to provide an updated databrowser in 2013 that will resolve this and other issues.

In Scotland, the renewables target (which is to reach 100% by 2020) is expressed as generation as a proportion of gross electricity consumption (defined as generation plus transfers into Scotland less transfers out of Scotland). In 2007, this was 20.2%, rising to 22.0% in 2008, 27.3% in 2009, and 24.1% in 2010 and 31% in 2011. I believe we have now exceeded the 2011 target.

These targets are probably the most ambitious of any nation in the world, but Scotland does have an abundance of renewable resources as our First Minister (Alex Salmond – widely thought of as the best political operator in Europe, never mind the UK) reminds us – “We have 25% of Europe’s tidal power potential, 25% of its offshore wind potential and 10% of its wave power potential – not bad for a nation with less than 1% of Europe’s population.” And university research into marine energy started in Scotland in the 1970′s so we tend to be ahead on that front.

The problem of course is that we don’t just use electricity in Scotland. Natural gas is used for domestic heating and hot water. And North Sea natural gas (and oil) is depleting very rapidly. One potential solution to replace natural gas for heating is to use heat pumps. The Japanese have developed Eco Cute air source heat pumps using CO2 as the working gas, and these units have many attractions for retrofit into the existing housing stock (which was generally constructed to be heated by coal fires). But using heat pumps implies more electricity generation.

And of course, we use oil for transport (amongst other things). The politicians have electrified some railways recently and are re-opening closed lines (the Aidrie – Bathgate link and the Borders railway for example) and electric trams and hybrid buses are being introduced into the capital city. But most folk drive petrol (gas) or diesel powered cars and fly off on holiday (although you can get electric trains all the way from Scotland to France and beyond).

Electric cars have arrived and you can see the odd one or two driving about if you really know what you’re looking (and listening) for. Nissan is about to start production of the Leaf in the north of England and prices are projected to come down. Renault are introducing a range of electric cars including one in the supermini market segment (the Zoe) with a battery on monthly hire.

So there are potential engineering solutions out there. What we need is more leadership and clarity in pointing the way forward so that the average man in the street can make informed decisions about his/her future.