Record First Quarter For Scottish Renewables Generation
Scotland’s wind farms generated record amounts of power in the first quarter of 2015 according to new data published last week. Statistics also confirmed that Scotland achieved record levels of ‘green’ energy generation in 2014, with almost half of all electricity used coming from renewables.
Data released by Department of Energy and Climate Change revealed that in Scotland:
- In the first three months of 2015, wind generated 4,452 Gigawatt hours (GWh), up 4.3% on the previous record quarter. That’s enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 960,000 Scottish households for a year;
- 49.8% of all electricity used in Scotland during 2014 came from renewables;
- Installed renewables electricity capacity rose by 9% during the year to March 2015 to 7,383 Megawatts (MW).
However, Scotland’s Energy Minister Fergus Ewing MSP, has warned that the progress Scotland is making on realising its renewables potential face being substantially hampered by the policy of HM Government to remove taxpayer funded support for onshore wind generation.
Mr Ewing said, “These statistics show renewables continue to go from strength to strength, with almost half of Scotland’s electricity use coming from renewables last year and wind delivering record amounts of power in the first three months of 2015.
“Scotland accounts for around a third of total UK renewables generation. Given the record amounts of power now coming from wind, and a healthy pipeline of wind projects with consent and in planning, the UK Government’s proposals will have a profound and disproportionate impact on Scotland.
“I am pleased Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd has accepted my invitation to come to Scotland this summer to meet with the industry and developers and see the harmful effects this decision will have. Onshore wind is one of the most cost effective renewable energies, yet the UK Government’s perverse decision to end support puts this hard work and progress in jeopardy and the Scottish Government will continue to argue against it.”
