Renewables overtake N-power to emerge Scotland's top energy source
27 Nov 2014
Renewable energy has emerged as the main power source in Scotland, displacing nuclear-generated energy.
According to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, the first half of last year saw Scotland's wind and hydro power sources produce 10.3 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, overtaking the 7.8TWh of total combined output of nuclear power stations.
Only 5.6TWh of electricity came from coal-fired power stations, and an additional 1.4TWh from gas-fired stations.
The historic development has been hailed by environmental campaigners and leaders of the green energy sector.
According to Niall Stuart, chief executive of the industry body Scottish Renewables, there was still "plenty of potential" for more, with offshore wind and marine energy still in the early stages of development.
Stuart added the announcement that renewables had become Scotland's main source of electricity was historic news for Scotland and showed the investment made in the renewables sector was helping to deliver more power than ever before to Scottish homes and businesses.
He added, the important milestone was good news for anyone who cared about Scotland's economy, its energy security and efforts to tackle climate change.
Describing the announcement as historic', WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said it represented a "major step on the way to Scotland becoming a 100% renewable nation.
He added, last month while nuclear reactors were forced to shut because of cracks, Scotland's renewables were quietly and cleanly helping to keep the lights on in homes across the country.
Wind turbines in Scotland alone generated enough electricity to supply three million homes in the UK - equivalent to 126 per cent of the electricity needs of every home north of the border, Stuart said.
He added, put simply renewables worked and were helping to cut climate change emissions and create jobs in Scotland.
The Scottish government in October, approved 500 wind turbines to be set up across four offshore wind farms in the Forth and Tay region.
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