Scotland Well On Track To Reach 500 MW Community Renewable Energy Goal
Scotland’s goal of having 500 MW of community-owned renewable energy projects installed by 2020 is well on track, according to new figures released by the Energy Savings Trust (EST). As of right now, there are more than 200 MW of community, or locally owned, renewable energy generating capacity installed in the country.
The figures were released to precede the unveiling, in the next few weeks, of a variety of different incentives designed to spur community ownership of clean energy projects.
According to the EST, there were around 204 MW of community and locally owned renewable energy projects installed by the end of June 2012, the majority of which are on farms or estates.
Business Green notes: “Of the 204 MW installed, 88 MW was electricity capacity and 117 MW provided heat. In total, the installations could produce around 489 GWh of power over the course of the year. The group also recorded a further 674 MW of community and locally owned projects in the pipeline, which could increase the total capacity to 878 MW – well above the 500MW target. Of that project pipeline, 68 MW is currently under construction and a further 266MW has been granted planning permission but has not yet started building.”
With regards to the figures, Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing had this say: “Community projects have been taken up with huge enthusiasm across the country, and especially in the Highland and Islands. Smaller and more remote communities in particular see the obvious benefits of using the resources surrounding them to help increase their independence and security of supply.”
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