Scotland renewable energy at record high

Scotland achieved record levels of energy being generated from renewable sources last year, meaning the country is on track to meet with its green energy targets. New figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change have revealed that more than 17,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy were generated throughout Scotland in 2013.

The amount of green energy produced from Scotland represents an increase of 16.4 per cent on the previous years figures, showing that the development of new projects in the sector is paying off. During 2013, around 46.5 per cent of the country's energy needs were met by renewable sources, including hydro and wind power.

Throughout last year, 11,216 GWh worth of electricity was produced by wind, which is the highest level of electricity ever to have been created from this source within Scotland. Wind generation increased by 35.7 per cent on 2012's figures and was around five times more than was generated in 2006. 

By 2015, Scotland needs to be producing 50 per cent of its energy from renewable technology, in order to stay in line with targets. By 2020 this target will go up so that the country is hoping to produce all of its energy from green sources.

Fergus Ewing, energy minister, said: "These figures show that renewable electricity in Scotland is going from strength to strength, showing that 2013 was a record year for renewable generation in Scotland and that 2014 looks set to be even better."

Throughout the UK, coal still accounted for a large proportion of energy generation, with 36.3 per cent of electricity coming from coal in 2013. However, this figure was down by 9.6 per cent on the previous year, showing that the UK is on track. High wholesale prices saw gas generated electricity fall by 4.1 per cent.

Last year saw the domestic use of electricity increase by around 1.3 per cent, however, overall consumption fell by a provisional 0.5 per cent in the UK.