Sandy Dobbie: Science can turn tide in favour of renewables

Science has a key role to play in aiding our transition to a low carbon economy. Chemistry helps us use resources more efficiently, whether through better insulation, lighter vehicles, renewable fuels, or better batteries. Thus for every tonne of carbon dioxide emitted by the chemical industry, three tonnes is saved by industries that use its products.

For example, scientists at Edinburgh University are leading a UK research project called The Solar Spark which could revolutionise the way we harness solar power by improving the efficiency and cost of solar cells. These low cost cells can work in even the gloomiest of Scottish conditions and could one day help out the 1.6 billion people in the developing world currently without electricity.

Another area of development is in biofuels where Scottish companies have the potential to transform the fuel we use for air, road and seaborne travel. We could see biodiesel coming from inexpensive feedstocks. In addition, more fuel efficient tyres using advanced synthetic rubber are being developed by Polimeri Europa here in Scotland. The new Centre for Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation, which works with industrial partners such as GlaxoSmithKline, is also looking to produce higher-quality chemicals at lower costs, through changes to manufacturing processes.

In short, chemistry tackles climate change issues at source by increasing efficiency. For example over 42 million tonnes of CO2 are saved in Europe every year thanks to lightweight food packaging. We already have some of the biggest global players in the chemical sciences sector based in Scotland, which is why it is our second top exporter (behind whisky) worth £2.7 billion every year for our economy. So we need not be daunted by the environment challenges we face but instead should put science at the forefront of the fight.

• Dr Sandy Dobbie is chairman of Chemical Sciences Scotland.