Scotland Unlikely to Hit Renewable Energy Targets Solo

Scotland is unlikely to achieve its target of having all electricity produced from renewable sources, if the country becomes independent, a team of academics, specialized in energy, has warned in a report.

The group, membered by researchers from Birmingham, Cardiff, Robert Gordon and Queens in Belfast, claims that Scotland alone will not be able to subsidise their ambition without support from the rest of the UK, according to the Guardian.

“Gaining greater control over energy policy is likely to be an inferior option [for Scotland] as far as getting renewables funded is concerned, in comparison with the prospect of achieving a scheme organised by Westminster in which the costs are shared across the UK”, their report states.

“This is because, in practice, funding a significant expansion of Scottish-based offshore renewables under independence would lead to considerable increases in Scottish electricity prices, something that a Scottish government would find hard to sustain politically.”

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, February 12, 2013; Image: scotland