A key industry strategy to capitalise on Scotland's smart grid expertise and create thousands of new jobs in Scotland has been published.

The strategy includes a target to create up to 12,000 new jobs by 2020, by supporting work to secure Scotland's place as an exemplar in smart grid adoption and as a leading international provider of Smart Grid technologies and know-how.

Smart grids are digitally-enabled grids that can accommodate the changing patterns of demand and generation of electricity. They facilitate the integration of renewables, allowing the network to be balanced more easily and efficiently, and bring considerable benefits to the consumer such as more reliable, sustainable and cost-efficient electricity.

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First Minister, Alex Salmond launched the Smart Grid Sector Strategy at the All Energy conference in Aberdeen on May 23.

He said: "Scotland is playing an important role in the emerging global low carbon economy, including pursuing a target to ensure renewable energy generates at least 100% of Scotland's electricity demand by 2020.

"The development of smart grid technologies and services will be an important part of this green energy drive - and an important opportunity for Scottish businesses and research institutions.

"The target to create as many as 12,000 jobs in the Smart grid sector is a very ambitious one, which will require continued close working between government, industry and academia. It is also a signal of intent and a measure of the determination, skill and vision which exists across Scotland's leading-edge low carbon industry."

The Strategy identifies six areas for action: encouraging innovation; maximising the impact of pilot and demonstrator projects in Scotland; empowering consumers by increasing awareness of how to manage energy consumption; developing the supply chain in Scotland to seize opportunities; identifying skills requirements; and improving dialogue and engagement across the sector and with related sectors.

(GK)