Bumper Month For Renewables

Environmentalists claim renewables generated 126percent of the energy needed to supply Scottish households last month.

Analysis by the environmental group of data provided by the WeatherEnergy organisation found that for the month of October:

• Wind turbines alone generated an estimated 982,842MWh of electricity, enough to power 3,045,000 homes in the UK - equivalent to 126% of the electricity needs of every home in Scotland.
   
• For those homes fitted with solar PV panels, there was enough sunshine to meet an estimated 46% of the electricity needs of an average home in Edinburgh, 38% in Inverness, 37% in Glasgow, and 33% in Aberdeen.
   
• For those homes fitted with solar hot water panels, there was enough sunshine to meet an estimated 41% of the hot water needs of an average home in Edinburgh, 31% in Inverness, 30% in Glasgow, and 27% in Aberdeen.

Wind

Solar PV

Solar thermal

WWF Scotland’s director Lang Banks said Scotland’s wind and sunshine were "quietly and cleanly helping to keep the lights on" in homes across the country.

He said: “Summer may be a distant memory, but for the tens of thousands of Scottish households that have installed solar panels to generate electricity or heat water, a third or more of their needs were met from the sun this October, helping reduce their reliance on coal, gas, or even oil.”

The figures come as United Nations scientists published their latest report on global climate change, warning that without action the world faces “severe, pervasive and irreversible” damage.

“The science is clear, if we are to prevent the worst impacts of global climate change, then the world needs to move away from fossil fuels. The good news is that here in Scotland we’re making good use of wind power to create clean electricity. Banks added.

"However, if Scotland is going to meet its future climate change targets, then we need to see greater support for energy efficiency and renewable heat, as well as action to curb emissions from transport.”