New data shows that wind turbines in Scotland provided 699,684MWh of electricity to the National Grid during the month of April. WWF Scotland published their findings on Tuesday, which found that the supply of Scottish wind turbines was enough, on average, to meet the electrical needs of 70 percent of Scottish households.
Compared with the same time last year, the energy output has increased by 15 percent, when wind energy provided 608,601MWh of electricity to the grid. WeatherEnergy figures show that during the month of April, it took a total of 8 days for wind turbines to generate enough electricity to supply 100 percent of Scottish homes.
Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, shared in a statement: “Thanks to a combination of stronger winds and increased capacity, output from turbines in April was up more by 15 percent compared to the same period last year – supplying power equivalent to the average electrical needs of 1.9 million homes.”
Besides wind power, there was also good news for Scottish solar power. According to Banks, “Homes fitted with solar panels were able to obtain 70 percent or more of their electricity or hot water needs from the sun.” WeatherEnergy’s Karen Robinson said: “After a relatively slow start to the year, Scotland’s wind power output is back on the up thanks to some powerful winds during the month.”
As Scotland moves toward summer, solar power will increase in energy contribution, “It won’t be long now before the average home with panels will be able to meet all its electricity or hot water needs for the month from the sun,” insists Robsinson.
Scottish Government claims onshore wind power is now the most common form of renewable energy, meanwhile a quarter of Europe’s offshore wind resources are based off the coast of Scotland. Statistics published by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change in March showed that in 2015, well over half of Scottish electricity consumption came from renewables, 7.7 per cent ahead of the 50 per cent target.
Director Lang Banks commented: “If we’re to move to the next level in the global shift to a zero-carbon society, then the next Scottish Government must bring forward an energy strategy that ensures Scotland is the first EU nation to have a completely renewable electricity generation system by 2030.”