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Decarbonising the global energy industry and the “fourth industrial revolution” were two topics on the agenda at this week’s Scottish Renewables annual conference.

There is recognition that to combat climate change it is necessary to invest in low carbon technologies and innovation.

Ole Hoy Jakobsen, corporate actions engagement manager, The Climate Group, a global non-profit organisation, explained how it works with government and industry to drive a low carbon future.

Its RE100 programme involves some of the world’s largest companies working to scale-up demand for renewables.

Jakobsen gave the examples of Ikea which plans to put solar panels in all its stores in China and Apple which is working with the supply chain in that market to find the best ways to source renewable energy.

John MacArthur, vice president of Group CO2 at Shell, told conference delegates that the company is looking to thrive through the energy transition to low carbon and is committed to investing in green technologies and innovation.

This week Shell launched its ‘Sky’ scenario which will look at what it needs to do to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate.

MacArthur said: “Renewables is essential and there are huge opportunities.”

He added: “Scotland is very well placed. A great resource for Scotland is its people and their invention.”

In a session on the “technology revolution”, Andrew Kerr, executive director of the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), explained that energy innovations can also drive social change and create economic benefits.

He said: “Scotland has been very good in using energy to solve other problems.”