Two weeks after the Department for Energy and Climate Change announced that 2011 was the best year ever for renewable energy in Scotland, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has called for the industry to get even better results in 2012.
Mr Ewing said: “Last week’s figures showed that 2011 was a spectacular year for renewable energy in Scotland.
“We generated 94 percent of the previous year’s entire generation in the first three quarters of the year alone.”
According to industry figures the year to October 2011 saw a record breaking £750 million of investment in renewable energy in Scotland.
There are currently 7 gigawatts (GW) of renewable projects operational, under construction or consented. 2012 promises to see further progress, with a pipeline of proposed projects to deliver 17GW of generating capacity worth an estimated capital investment of £46 billion.
Scotland’s goal is to create the equivalent of 100 percent of our electricity needs from renewables by 2020 which is estimated to require around 16GW in 2020 – as well as more from other sources.
There is an interim target of 31 percent by 2011, and the DECC figures show there is enough installed capacity in Scotland to hit that target.
Mr Ewing added:
“Renewable energy provides an opportunity to reindustrialise Scotland, and I am working with colleagues to ensure we help our young people obtain the skills they need to gain high quality jobs in this sector, as well as working with the oil and gas sector to ensure we transfer the valuable skills and knowledge of years of experience to the renewable energy sector.
“We are working ever more closely in partnership with the renewables industry and with communities to drive forward Scotland’s energy revolution.
“My new year’s resolution is to continue to do everything in my power further Scotland’s reputation as a global green energy powerhouse in 2012.”
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Source: sdi, January 05, 2012;