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Scotland on track for another record year for renewables

New stats show 30% increase in renewable electricity generation. 

Figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that Scotland’s renewable electricity generation in the first half of 2014 was 30 per cent higher compared to same period in 2013. This overall increase is primarily due to a 50 per cent increase in hydro generation and a 20 per cent increase in wind output.

The statistics also estimate that renewables met a record-breaking 46.4 per cent of gross electricity consumption in 2013 – up from 39.9 per cent in 2012, indicating that Scotland is on track to meet its interim target of 50 per cent by 2015.

New figures also show that in 2012 renewable heat generation was 3.0 per cent of Scotland’s non-electrical heat demand. This is up from 2.7 per cent in 2011, indicating that good progress is being made towards the Scottish renewable heat target. Additionally, final energy consumption decreased in 2012 by 2.2 per cent. In 2012, Scotland’s final energy consumption was 11 per cent lower than the baseline averaged over the years 2005-2007.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“2014 is on track to be another record year for renewable electricity generation in Scotland, with 30 per cent higher generation in the first half of 2014 compared to the same period last year, demonstrating that renewable generation continues to go from strength to strength in Scotland.

“Scottish renewable electricity made up 32 per cent of the UK’s renewable energy generation in 2013 and we continue to be a net exporter of electricity.

“Energy efficiency sits at the top of our energy hierarchy and the progress being made is welcome.

“Harnessing Scotland’s vast energy wealth has multiple benefits – reducing our carbon emissions, creating jobs and investment and improving the energy security of Scotland and the rest of the UK. And of course communities the length and breadth of Scotland are also benefitting from millions of pounds of community benefit funding. We are committed to making Scotland a leading low carbon investment destination, delivering growth from the growing low carbon sector and ensuring communities across Scotland can benefit from the opportunities that the transition to a low carbon economy brings.

“The Scottish Government has made its energy policy a top priority and has achieved great progress, despite being limited in terms of its devolved responsibilities. We look forward to proposals for more powers encompassing the necessary levers to deliver Scottish priorities.”

Notes To Editors

DECC quarterly renewable electricity generation tables

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/65859/et6_1.xls

DECC sub-national total final energy consumption statistics

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/358034/sep_2014_sub_national_total_final_energy_consumption_statistics_final

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

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