Scotland looks to build on a record year for renewable energy

Scotland's Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has called on the renewable energy industry to build on the successes of 2011.

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Two weeks after Department for Energy and Climate Change figures were released which showed 2011 is on track to be the best year ever for renewable energy in Scotland, with 94 per cent of 2010's entire output generated in the first three quarters alone, Mr Ewing said he was determined to make 2012 an even better year.

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.

But 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 pounds.

Scotland has the goal of generating the equivalent of 100 per cent of our electricity needs from renewables by 2020 - estimated to require around 16GW in 2020 - as well as more from other sources.

There is an interim target of 31 per cent by 2011, and the DECC figures show there is enough installed capacity in Scotland to hit that target.

Mr Ewing said: "Last week's figures show that 2011 has been a spectacular year for renewable energy in Scotland. We generated 94 per cent of the previous year's entire generation in the first three quarters of the year alone."

Article continues: http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/news/national-news/123000-scotland-looks-to-build-on-a-record-year-for-renewable-energy.html

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