Scotland Generates Record Level Of Wind-Driven Electricity

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

New figures have shown that Scotland continues to generate record levels of wind-driven electricity, again breaking its quarterly record in the first quarter of 2015.

Image Credit: Wind alarm Scotland via Wikimedia CommonsThe Scottish Government released new energy generation figures on Thursday, showcasing the country’s continually impressive wind electricity generation figures. According to the new data, Scotland generated 4.452 GWh in the first quarter of 2015, up 4.3% from the previous record quarter, which equates to powering approximately 960,000 Scottish households annually.

In the first three months of 2015, Scotland also saw its installed renewable energy capacity increase by 9%, sitting at 7.383 GW by the end of March.

“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,” said Scotland’s Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.

Meanwhile, Scottish renewable energy generation in 2014 accounted for almost half (49.8%) of all generated electricity.

“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.”

However, Mr Ewing used the publication of the new data to readdress concerns that the UK Government’s current plan to cut onshore wind energy off from governmental support could substantially hamper further development.

“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,” Mr Ewing continued.

“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.”


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

Joshua S Hill

I'm a Christian, a nerd, a geek, and I believe that we're pretty quickly directing planet-Earth into hell in a handbasket! I also write for Fantasy Book Review (.co.uk), and can be found writing articles for a variety of other sites. Check me out at about.me for more.

Joshua S Hill has 4403 posts and counting. See all posts by Joshua S Hill