Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Wind power for 1.2m homes is wasted because of lack of storage
Enough wind power to supply 1.2m homes a day was wasted over winter because there is no capacity to store extra energy generated on gusty days, according to new research published in The Telegraph.
National Grid’s electricity system operator asked wind turbines which were expected to generate about 1.35 terawatt-hours of electricity between October and January to switch off instead because they were not needed to meet demand at the time, according to the consultancy Stonehaven.
Meanwhile, gas-fired power turbines burned an estimated 65 terawatt-hours of gas over the period when wind speeds were lower – costing an estimated £60bn.
Nicola Sturgeon vows to 'carefully consider' alcohol advertising ban
Nicola Sturgeon has pledged her government will "carefully consider" the issues around alcohol advertising after an outcry from the drinks industry.
But the First Minister told The Scotsman that the need to take "responsible steps to protect public health", insisting there was evidence that adverts which "glamorise" drinking could lead to "over-consumption of alcohol".
She spoke out after more than 100 firms which produce alcohol, including the Budweiser Brewing Group, Lanson Champagne, Diageo, Whyte & Mackay and Tennent's Lager, signed an open letter to Holyrood ministers, saying: "Don't destroy Scotland's drinks industry."
Shell hits Greenpeace protestors on Penguins FPSO with injunction
Shell has filed an injunction against two Greenpeace vessels in a bid to deter protestors who have now been on board its Penguins FPSO for 100 hours.
Four protesters boarded the Boskalis heavy lift ship White Marlin last week, which is transporting the oil major’s new Penguins floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, Shell’s first new manned installation in the UK North Sea for 30 years.
Energy Voice says that under the terms of the injunction, the Greenpeace vessels also have an obligation to chart a course that prevents a collision course with the White Marlin, with threat of a heavy fine or even jail time.
However, Greenpeace successfully transported another two protestors onto the FPSO using other boats that are unaffected by the court order.
Digital pound likely this decade, Treasury says
A state-backed digital pound is likely to be launched later this decade, according to the Treasury and the Bank of England.
Both institutions want to ensure the public has access to safe money that is easy to use in the digital age.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the central-bank digital currency (CBDC) could be a new "trusted and accessible" way to pay - but it will not be built until at least 2025, according to the BBC.
Households told energy bills will fall this summer
Consumers will start to see their energy bills fall this summer, two leading economic analysts have said, helping to bring down inflation and reduce pressures on the cost of living.
The Resolution Foundation said it expected the average bill to fall to £2,200 by October, below the £2,500 paid under the present price cap. That view was backed by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight, which predicted that average bills could fall to about £2,360 over the summer.
The predictions, published in The Times, are in stark contrast to last November’s when forecasters warned that prices this summer would rise to an average £3,500 a year.
New strike dates at Highland airports announced
Staff at almost all Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd's 11 sites are to go strike later this month.
Unite members, including baggage handlers, ground crew and security, fire service and administration staff, rejected a 5% pay offer last year.
The BBC reports that walkouts are to take place at Dundee Airport on 17 and 20 February.
Staff at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh and Tiree will take action on 21, 22 and 23 February.
Manchester City charged by Premier League with breaking financial rules
Manchester City are facing the threat of relegation after being charged by the Premier League with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial regulations following a four-year investigation.
If the charges are proved it could lead to a range of sanctions under the league’s rule W.51, including a deduction of points, with the ultimate sanction being expulsion from the top flight, The Times says.
The Premier League announced on its website that the club had been charged with breaching 115 regulations over 14 seasons from 2009-10 to this campaign.