Renewable energy in Scotland

Renewable energy in Scotland

Scottish Government’s energy plan calls for 100% of electricity consumption to be generated from renewable sources by 2020. Scotland has an estimated potential of 36.5 GW of wind and 7. 5 GW of tidal power, 25% of the estimated total capacity for the European Union. The renewable energy industry supports more than 11,500 jobs in Scotland, according to a 2013 study.

About Renewable energy in Scotland in brief

Summary Renewable energy in ScotlandIn 2015, Scotland generated 59% of its electricity consumption through renewable sources, exceeding the country’s goal of 50% renewable electricity by 2015. The Scottish Government’s energy plan calls for 100% of electricity consumption to be generated from renewable sources by 2020. Scotland has an estimated potential of 36.5 GW of wind and 7. 5 GW of tidal power, 25% of the estimated total capacity for the European Union. The renewable electricity generating capacity may be 60 GW or more, considerably greater than the existing capacity from all Scottish fuel sources of 10.3 GW. In 2012, over 40% of Scotland’s electricity came from renewable energy, and Scotland contributed almost 40 per cent of the UK’s renewables output. In 2002, Scotland consumed a total of 175 Terawatt-hours of energy in all forms, some 2% less than in 1990. Of this, only 20% was consumed in the form of electricity by end users, the great majority of energyised is from oil and gas. The renewable energy industry supports more than 11,500 jobs in Scotland, according to a 2013 study by Scottish Renewables. They estimated that the offshore wind industry might create between 300–2,2,200 long-term jobs by 2020, with 20 GW of renewable energy projects in the pipeline. Rural areas are being supported by bio-energy systems in such as Glasgow, Fife, Lochaber and Lochaber, as well as wind power development, wave power and tidal power industries in the Highlands and Islands.

They estimate that the wind industry may create between 200–2,.200, long- term jobs by the end of the decade, and up to 300,000 jobs by 2030. In 2018, Scotland exported over 28.5 GWh of renewable electricity, making up 90% of gross electricity consumption. The bulk of electricity production is derived from gas and oil, with renewables 3%, prior to the substantial growth in wind power output. It is estimated that there was probably a small net loss in jobs in 2011 from the government support for renewable energy in Scotland. In 2013, a study by 4-Consulting calculated that the renewable energy sector in Scotland might create up to 1,500 new jobs. In 2014, the Scottish Renewable Energy Association said it was likely that there would be a net loss of jobs in the wind and wave power industry in Scotland due to the government’s support for offshore wind power industries. It said the wind power industry could create as many as 1,000 new jobs by 2015, with the potential to grow quickly in the years ahead in the areas of Fife and the Lochaber Islands. It added that the potential for tidal power in Scotland is even greater, with a potential of up to 14 GW of wave power potential, 10% of EU capacity. In 2019, renewable electricity generation in Scotland was 30,528 GWh in 2019,. making up approximately 25% of total UK renewable generation. Scottish renewable generation makes up approximately 20% of total British renewable generation.