In 2011, Scotland set a goal related to green energy for itself: the goal was to generate the equivalent of 100 percent of the country’s gross electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020. Although the country has not achieved this goal, 97.4 percent of its gross electricity consumption still came from clean energy sources last year. Scottish Renewables, the commercial body of Scotland’s renewable energy industry, says (PDF) that it shows an 8 percent increase compared to the 2019 figures.
Chief executive of the commercial agency, Claire Mack, added that the industry “has more than tripled [its] renewable electricity production “and generated” enough to supply the equivalent of more than 7 million households. “The wind continues to be the main source of renewable energy for the country, although hydropower has shown the greatest growth last year.
Scottish authorities hope that renewable energy sources will be able to meet 50 percent of the country’s energy demands for electricity, heating and transport by 2030. The country has a lot of work to do to achieve this goal, however, especially when it comes to comes to transportation and heating.
Mack said that “domestic and commercial transport accounts for almost 25% of the energy used in Scotland, with heat accounting for more than half, as well as more than half of its emissions”. Currently, renewable sources supply only 6.5% of their demand for non-electric heat. “The technologies we need to replace gas in our homes already exist in large part, but deploying them across the country is an enormous task,” said Mack. “Industry and government must continue to work together to address the challenges that exist if we are to fully realize our potential, achieve net zero value by 2045 and achieve a fair energy transition.”
Holly O’Donnell, manager of energy and climate policy at WWF Scotland, is calling for an acceleration in the launch of EV and more concessions for renewable heating. This could help Scotland to rely more on renewable energy for heating and transport, as well as reduce emissions from these sources.