Scotland Feels Offshore Wind Bump

Wind turbines offshore Scotland generated 1,369 GWh of electricity in 2018, a 122.2% increase compared to 616 GWh of electricity generated in 2017, according to the latest figures from UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Scotland’s operational offshore wind capacity grew by 153% year-on-year, from 246MW in 2017 to 623MW in 2018.

“Last year we saw the growing importance of offshore wind with capacity and generation both more than doubling compared to 2017 – with further projects under construction,’‘ Scotland’s Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said.

The increase in the generation and the capacity was due to the commissioning of the 93.2MW European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), partial commissioning of the 588MW Beatrice offshore wind farm, and the addition of the 2MW Kincardine floating wind turbine to the grid.

Overall, renewable electricity generation in Scotland reached record levels in 2018. Generation in Scotland was 26,708 GWh, a 6.1% increase on the previous record in 2017. This output of electricity is the equivalent of 74.6% of the country’s gross electricity consumption. Scotland’s renewable electricity capacity grew from 10.0 GW in 2017 to 10.9 GW in 2018.

“Despite damaging policy changes from the UK Government since 2015, particularly in terms of impacts on onshore wind, we continue to provide strong support for Scotland’s renewable energy sector. Generation and infrastructure investment continues, not least because of the importance in preventing the damaging impacts of climate change,” Minister Wheelhouse said.

“We will ensure the correct strategic decisions are taken to further support this highly valued sector, despite the difficulties created by unhelpful decisions at Westminster.”