Renewables now largest electricity generator

23rd December 2015

49.7 per cent of gross electricity consumption came from renewable sources in 2014.

Renewables are now the single largest contributor to electricity generation in Scotland at a record 38 per cent of total output - higher than both nuclear (33 per cent) and fossil fuels (28 per cent) for the first time, statistics published today have revealed.

Renewable sources delivered 49.7% of gross electricity consumption in 2014 - up from 44.4% in 2013. This means that the 2015 50% renewable electricity target has almost been met one year ahead of schedule.

Renewable generation in 2014 was up 11.9 per cent on 2013 (which was a previous record year for renewables) and accounted for a record 38 per cent of total Scottish generation. Scotland generated 49,929 GWh of electricity in 2014 with renewable electricity generation delivering 18,962 GWh.

Scottish renewable generation made up approximately 29 per cent of the total UK renewable output in 2014. Scotland continued to be a net exporter of electricity, exporting 23.7 per cent of generation in 2014.

Welcoming the figures, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: The historic agreement reached at the global climate change summit in Paris earlier this month sends a signal of certainty about the global economys low carbon future, in the same way as Scotland did through our world-leading climate legislation in 2009.

Todays figures show that Scotlands renewables sector is stronger than ever and our early adoption of clean, green energy technology and infrastructure was the right thing to do. It is fantastic news that renewables are now Scotlands biggest electricity generator, and that nearly half of gross electricity consumption comes from renewables.

Despite damaging policy changes from the UK Government, we will continue to harness - and bolster - Scotlands renewables potential, both in generation and infrastructure. At the end of Q3 2015, there was 7,504 MW of installed renewables electricity capacity in Scotland, an increase of 4.6% over the year.

Devolved administrations, like the Scottish Government, will be strong drivers of a progressive climate agenda. Todays figures show that a low carbon economy is not just a practical way forward, but that green energy plays a crucial role in the security of Scotland's energy supply.