Launch of landmark Roadmap and cross-sector Mission Board
Powering a circular future for our energy infrastructure.
A first of its kind Roadmap to guide Scotland towards a more circular energy sector has been published today, alongside the establishment of a sector-wide Mission Board to drive forward its delivery.
The landmark announcement was made as part of Zero Waste Scotland’s presence at the 2026 All-Energy Conference at the Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow.
The circular energy infrastructure Roadmap is the first in a planned series of priority sector Roadmaps developed by Zero Waste Scotland and sets out a five-year framework to improve material use across Scotland’s energy sector. Future Roadmaps will cover other high-impact sectors including the built environment, textiles and the bioeconomy.
Embedded within the Scottish Government’s Circular Economy Strategy, the Roadmaps are a primary vehicle through which Scotland’s circular ambitions can be realised.
Energy Infrastructure Roadmap to Circularity
This energy infrastructure specific publication proposes nine key interventions to drive circular action within the sector - the first of which is the formation of a sector owned, sector driven Mission Board that mobilises leaders from industry, academia, and the public sector to help unlock the value of the materials already embedded in Scotland’s energy system.
As Scotland’s drive towards circularity accelerates, so too does the demand for materials, infrastructure and investment - meanwhile a significant amount of existing infrastructure from wind turbines to oil and gas assets are expected to reach the end of operational life in the coming decades.
To date, much of the value from these decommissioned assets is lost through export of the recyclable waste, but the Roadmap sets out how Scotland can retain far more of that value by increasing reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacturing capacity at home.
Jane Beasley of Zero Waste Scotland, said:
“Today marks an important step for the future of Scotland’s circular economy as we enter a new age of action.
“For the last decade, Zero Waste Scotland has worked with government and industry to gather evidence and set the direction for circularity, and now with Scotland’s Circular Economy Strategy in place the priority is delivery.
“The scale of our energy transition means we can no longer rely on a traditional, linear approach to materials. We need to get more value from what we already have, and we need to do it in a way that will strengthen our supply chains, support jobs, reduce our environmental impact, and boost our economy.
“This Mission Board brings together the organisations and expertise needed to make that happen, recognising that it cannot be done by any one organisation alone. This collaborative effort will turn a shared ambition for circularity within our energy infrastructure into a reality and strengthen Scotland’s environmental and economic ambitions for years to come.”
Mission Board
In moving from a period of strategy to delivery, the Mission Board will work together to increase the reuse of materials, embed circular principles into policy and procurement, and strengthen the data, skills, and financial systems needed to support the transition.
Chaired by Professor Karen Turner of the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Energy Policy, the energy infrastructure Mission Board brings together representatives from the British Ports Association, British Standards Institute, Business Development Scotland, CeeD Scotland, Decomm Mission, Scottish Enterprise, SEPA, Skills Development Scotland, Transition Finance Scotland and Zero Waste Scotland.
As an independent body, the Mission Board will continue to evolve, drawing on expertise from industry, academia, communities and environmental organisations, and may expand its membership to reflect emerging priorities and opportunities.
Director, University of Strathclyde Centre for Energy Policy, and energy infrastructure Mission Board Chair, Professor Karen Turner said:
“I’m delighted that we are moving beyond debate to delivery of a more circular Scottish economy.
“Energy infrastructure lies at the heart of delivering a cleaner, more productive economy. Establishing a dedicated circular energy infrastructure Mission Board to support delivery of an action-focused roadmap is an important step in achieving a net zero transition characterised by greater energy security, affordability, and a more resource-efficient economy.
“As an economist and energy policy researcher, I’m looking forward to leading this collaborative initiative and helping to deliver measurable, evidence-based change that supports a more resilient and prosperous future for Scotland.”
