Comments on: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Germany Announce Big Renewable Energy Targets

By: Europe’s Biggest Wind Farm Starts Producing Electricity (in Scotland) – CleanTechnica: Cleantech innovation news and views

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:12:13 +0000

[…] Scotland has the goal of getting 100% of its power from renewable energy sources by 2025, perhaps the most ambitious renewable energy target in the world. […]

By: Scotland on Track to Meet the ‘World’s Most Ambitious’ Renewable Energy Targets – CleanTechnica: Cleantech innovation news and views

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:01:21 +0000

[…] Scotland’s renewable energy targets are the most ambitious in the world. While the renewable energy targets set by the European Union is 20 percent by 2020, Scotland has a target of generating 80 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. It also aims at generating all of its electricity from green energy sources by 2025. […]

By: Denmark 100% Fossil Fuel Free by 2050? – CleanTechnica

Denmark 100% Fossil Fuel Free by 2050? – CleanTechnica — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:00:49 +0000

[…] up on some great news regarding renewable energy targets and possibilities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Germany, Denmark also recently announced great potential for weening itself off fossil […]

By: NOBAMA is GOODBAMA

NOBAMA is GOODBAMA — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 02:54:31 +0000

I don’t see why these “goals” are so exciting.
Portugal has set and exceeded it’s renewable energy goal of 45% already.

By: Denmark & Germany Next to Announce Big Renewable Energy Targets & Possibilities – EcoLocalizer

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:41:16 +0000

[…] Germany, has set a goal of getting 60% of energy from renewable resources by 2050. While a study from the Federal Environment Agency a few months ago found that Germany could get 100% of its energy from renewable resources by 2050 (becoming the first major economy to cut fossil fuels out of its energy diet), this is still a big target and will continue to keep Germany as a clean energy leader. […]

By: Biggest Day of Global Political Action on 10/10? [New Ellen Page/350.org VIDEO] – Planetsave

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:27:04 +0000

[…] movement to address it can only get stronger. While some countries and cities are moving fast to install clean energy and switch to cleaner modes of transport, many are still sitting in […]

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:40:49 +0000

Gregory, thank you for the additional points and clarifications. You are right, energy consumption and energy production are 2 separate issues.

By: Gregory Norminton

Gregory Norminton — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:47:26 +0000

While I like the enthusiasm of your piece – and share it – I have to point out a classic bit of fuzzy reporting. You fail to make a distinction between electricity production and overall energy consumption. Moving the former towards renewables is considerably easier than moving the latter. Thus, Northern Ireland has set a goal of producing 40% of its electricity from renewables by 2020. Scotland (where I live) hopes to generate 80% of its electricity via renewables by 2020 and 100% five years after that. But we will still be burning fossil fuels for heating and transport. Finally, you cannot compare Germany’s mid-century target with those, already mentioned, of its smaller near-neighbours. Germany IS talking about overall energy consumption, not merely electricity generation. To get to 60% renewables for all energy – i.e. transport and heating included – is a bold target, though I have little doubt that the Germans can reach, or even exceed it.