Renewables were the single largest contributor to electricity generation in Scotland in 2014, accounting for a record 38 per cent of total generation and surpassing both nuclear (33 per cent) and fossil fuels (28 per cent) for the first time, statistics published today have revealed.
Renewable sources delivered 49.7 per cent of gross electricity consumption in 2014 – up from 44.4 per cent in 2013. This means that the 2015 50 per cent renewable electricity target has almost been met one year ahead of schedule.
Renewable generation in 2014 was up 11.9 per cent on 2013, a previous record year for renewables. Scotland generated 49,929 GWh of electricity in 2014 with renewable electricity generation delivering 18,962 GWh.
Scottish renewable generation made up approximately 29 per cent of the total UK renewable output in 2014. Scotland continued to be a net exporter of electricity, exporting 23.7 per cent of generation in 2014.
“Today’s figures show that Scotland’s renewables sector is stronger than ever and our early adoption of clean, green energy technology and infrastructure was the right thing to do. It is fantastic news that renewables are now Scotland’s biggest electricity generator, and that nearly half of gross electricity consumption comes from renewables,” Scotland’s Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said.
“Despite damaging policy changes from the UK Government, we will continue to harness – and bolster – Scotland’s renewables potential, both in generation and infrastructure. At the end of Q3 2015, there was 7,504 MW of installed renewables electricity capacity in Scotland, an increase of 4.6% over the year.”