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Case Study

Unlocking the Techno-Economic Potential of Energy Storage

“This landmark study uncovered a powerful economic opportunity for Scotland; mapping a vibrant supply chain, spotlighting high-impact technologies, and projecting thousands of future jobs, positioning Scotland at the forefront of the global grid-scale energy storage revolution.”

PROJECT BACKGROUND

With renewable energy deployment rapidly expanding across Scotland, the need to store and balance power has never been more critical. This project set out to uncover the economic potential of grid-scale energy storage exploring the scale of demand, the technologies driving it, and Scotland’s supply chain capability. Commissioned by Scottish Enterprise, the study focused on mapping the strength and depth of the existing supply chain and identifying where Scotland can seize emerging opportunities in this fast- evolving sector.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Understand the scale of global, UK and Scottish demand for grid-scale energy storage systems and the technologies likely to be used
Identify and map energy storage system projects planned for Scottish locations
Understand the strategy and policy landscape
Identify and categorise companies with locations in Scotland that are active, or have the potential to become active, in the grid-scale energy storage system supply chain

Understand the scale of global, UK and Scottish demand for grid-scale energy storage systems and the technologies likely to be used
Identify and map energy storage system projects planned for Scottish locations
Understand the strategy and policy landscape
Identify and categorise companies with locations in Scotland that are active, or have the potential to become active, in the grid-scale energy storage system supply chain




OUR APPROACH

We combined deep-dive research with insights from 20 industry stakeholders including key supply chain companies to understand Scotland’s grid-scale energy storage landscape.

Drawing on market data and expert interviews, we mapped the supply chain, built a searchable company database, and pinpointed high-impact technologies most likely to have the most significant impact on economic growth in Scotland. This groundwork fed into an economic impact assessment, highlighting the sector’s potential to generate significant FTE jobs and GVA for Scotland.

DELIVERY TEAM

John Taylor
Senior Consultant
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Deborah Creamer
Managing Director & Senior Consultant
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Hayley Welsh
Director & Senior Consultant
About>
Grace Crawford
Consultant
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OUTPUTS AND IMPACTS

The study delivered two powerful tools

  1. a detailed report highlighting the current and future economic impact of grid-scale energy storage in Scotland which also reveals the scale of upcoming projects relative to the nation’s energy needs, and
  2. a searchable database of Scottish supply chain companies.

The insights from the report will help Scottish Enterprise showcase Scotland’s supply chain strengths to international markets and attract investment into this fast-growing sector.

“Optimat has been instrumental in advancing our research into the grid scale energy storage market in Scotland. Their expertise and strategic insights have not only deepened our understanding of this sector but also highlighted key opportunities for further research and investigation.”

Suzanne O’Hare
Energy Transition Specialist, Scottish Enterprise

John Taylor

Senior Consultant

I’m John Taylor, a Senior Consultant at Optimat. Since joining the company in 2003, I have developed specialisms in sustainability and net zero related studies. This includes projecting future market demand scenarios, profiling regional supply chain capabilities, identifying and evaluating public sector support interventions and understanding future net zero skills needs across transport, built environment, energy transition, industrial decarbonisation and waste and the circular economy.

I am also one of the lead consultants for economic impact assessments and evaluation of challenge-fund programme and project applications. An experienced innovation due diligence assessor, I focus on reviewing R&D project applications with environmental outcomes. I like to work with good people in teams that deliver insights and outputs that clients value.

Prior to joining Optimat, I started a company to create online platforms to catalyse collaboration between companies and research organisations. Before this, I spent seven years working in the Scottish economic development network, supporting start-up and growing businesses, across all sectors, to develop business plans and access funding.

I have a BA(hons) in Business Economics and Marketing, an MSc in Entrepreneurial Studies and an MSc in Economic Management & Policy with Environmental Economics.

Deborah Creamer

Managing Director

I’m Deborah Creamer, the Managing Director of Optimat. I’m passionate about helping organisations and businesses make smarter, evidence-based decisions, especially when it comes to innovation, technology, and long-term growth.

I’ve been part of the Optimat team since 1998, specialising in strategic industrial analysis for high-tech sectors. Over the years, I’ve built up a deep understanding of what drives success in innovation and economic development, and I enjoy working with clients to turn data and insight into meaningful action.

I specialise in advanced materials and manufacturing and the industries in which they play a key role – ranging from aerospace to medical devices. My particular area of expertise is in funding for innovation, spanning a broad spectrum from evaluating R&D and innovation funding application to developing business cases for significant innovation assets in Scotland and the UK. I’ve supported many organisations to craft successful funding applications whether that is for a small R&D project or a state-of-the-art innovation centre and it’s incredibly rewarding to help secure the backing that great ideas need to become reality. Ibelieve in the power of innovation, collaboration, and practical thinking to create lasting impact, for businesses, industries, and communities.

Before joining Optimat, my career started in materials R&D and new product development, working with BP International and Bourns Electronics Inc. That hands on industry experience gave me a solid foundation in how technologies evolve and get to market.

I hold a BSc (Hons) in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, an MBA, and I’m a Chartered Engineer.

Hayley Welsh

Director & Senior Consultant

I’m Hayley Welsh, a Director and Senior Consultant at Optimat. I’ve been working in consultancy for more than 23 years, helping organisations make evidence-based decisions that drive growth, competitiveness and long-term success. My work spans both private and public sectors, from shaping strategies and policies to supporting companies with commercialisation and business planning.

Much of my experience lies in demand analysis, economic evaluation, market assessment and supply chain mapping. I’ve led projects that test market demand for new initiatives, benchmark performance to guide policy, and assess the impact of strategic investments in innovation and infrastructure. At the heart of my work is a focus on turning research and analysis into clear, practical outputs that clients can act on with confidence.

I have particular expertise in developing strategies and action plans, gathering and interpreting evidence, and engaging with stakeholders to build consensus. A big part of my role is bringing clarity to complexity, whether that’s translating research into recommendations, identifying opportunities for improvement, or ensuring that the evidence gathered directly supports decision-making.

I also bring strong project management skills, having coordinated large multi-stakeholder projects at both UK and European levels. I’m highly experienced in qualitative and quantitative research, from survey design and structured interviews to data analysis, and I take pride in communicating findings clearly and effectively to clients at all levels.

I hold a BA (Hons) in International Business and Modern Languages from the University of Strathclyde and an MBA from the Open University.

Grace Crawford

Consultant

I’m Grace, a consultant at Optimat. With an engineering background, I specialise in low carbon and renewable technologies, from established to more emerging industries including offshore wind, solar, energy storage and heat decarbonisation.

During my time at Optimat, I’ve been a part of a range of projects, building experience inskills analyses, due diligence, industry landscaping and benchmarking. I’ve further developed strong data analysis and interpretation skills, including database design and complex data modelling, enabling me to build robust datasets and perform in-depth analyses, generatingvaluable insights and informing strategic recommendations.

I’m passionate about how policy and innovation shape the journey to net zero, how it affects industry, the supply chain and individual consumers, within an ever-changing landscape.While my specialism lies in sustainability, I’ve had the opportunity to apply my skills across a range of sectors such as aerospace, leadership development, and innovation ecosystems.

Prior to joining Optimat I worked as a project engineer in the low carbon heat and energy industry, working on several complex public and private sector projects. This gave me an on-the-ground insight into the decarbonisation of heat and energy across a range of industries and has allowed me to bring that perspective to my role as consultant, with an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by stakeholders and the supply chain in the journey to net zero.

I hold a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Glasgow, and an MSc with Distinction in Sustainable Engineering from the University of Strathclyde.