The Future of Finance in Energy: Renewables, Electrification & AI Growth
18th Feb 2026
We’ve done some research into understanding more about the energy market, and how finance teams will be affected by anticipated changes.
The future of energy is unclear and volatile with lots of different potential changes upcoming which makes long-term planning and forecasting in this sector tough to navigate.
Multi-scenario planning and, therefore, extensive accurate data are paramount to navigating the future of energy carefully.
Finance: More Volatility
The research makes the point that Scotland is moving from a relatively stable energy environment to one that is structurally more complex and more volatile, which carries several consequences for finance teams.
1. Forecasting is becoming increasingly scenario-led
Electrification of transport and heat, growth in digital infrastructure and continued renewables expansion all introduce uncertainty for the future. The need for multi-scenario planning is, therefore, growing.
How the future looks for these aspects has an enormous impact on the energy industry and isn’t easy to predict. For finance leaders, that means wider forecast ranges as organisations begin preparing for optimistic and pessimistic scenarios.
2. Asset values are becoming more exposed to market volatility
In a renewables-heavy system, network bottlenecks can prevent electricity from being used or sold when it’s generated. While data can support in predicting highs and lows, there’s still restriction and volatility there that isn’t faced by other industries in the same way.
For finance teams, this means asset valuations can’t assume stable output and stable pricing. Cashflow projections need to factor in interruptions, price swings and connection risks as standard assumptions as opposed to rare downside scenarios.
The Finance Skillset in Energy
As the market grows and evolves in this space, so does the need for different financial skillsets. We’ve written in the past about Financial Business Partnering and its increased relevance in the Scottish market, and that’s very much the case here as well. With market volatility and drastic variations in scenarios, it’s important to get data accurate for these data to be well communicated to business leadership.
1. Project and infrastructure finance capability grows
As renewables and grid investment accelerate, demand increases for people who understand long-horizon capital projects, complex funding structures and regulatory frameworks.
This isn’t just within utilities. It extends to advisory firms, lenders, investors and corporates exposed to energy costs.
2. ESG and sustainability reporting moves into core finance
With sustainability standards tightening, demand increases for finance professionals who can integrate carbon accounting, climate disclosures and financial reporting.
This is less about standalone ESG roles and more about embedding sustainability competence inside mainstream finance.
3. Data and systems capability matters more
The report also links rising complexity to the need for stronger analytics, systems and automation within finance functions.
As organisations modernise, Scotland’s labour market will increasingly reward finance professionals who combine technical accounting strength with data fluency.
Conclusion
The energy transition changes the operating context for Scottish businesses. It increases volatility, tightens reporting expectations and embeds infrastructure investment deeper into the economy.
For finance teams, that can mean:
In finance recruitment, we expect to see rising demand for: