New figures released yesterday reveal that Scotland has not met its 2020 target of generating the equivalent of 100% of the nation’s gross electricity demand from renewable sources.
This target was set in 2011, when renewable technologies generated 37% of Scotland’s electricity demand. There was an 8% increase compared to 2019, meaning 97.4% of electricity demand is now met by renewable sources.
Responding, Claire Mack, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said, “Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets have been a tremendous motivator to the industry to increase deployment of renewable energy sources.”
However, continued Mack, “Renewable electricity is only a quarter of the picture. Domestic and commercial transport accounts for almost 25% of the energy used in Scotland, with heat making up more than half, as well as more than half of its emissions. Currently 6.5% of our non-electrical heat demand is generated from renewable sources. The technologies we need to replace gas in our homes largely exist now but deploying these across the country is an enormous task.
“Industry and government must continue to work together to address the challenges which exist if we are to fully realise our potential, meet net-zero by 2045 and achieve a just energy transition”
