Scotland
UK
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Alex Salmond has unveiled the new target at the RenewableUK conference in Glasgow.
He said: "When I became First Minister in 2007, I inherited a target for 50% of Scotland’s electricity to be produced by renewable sources by 2020. We now know that we can achieve much more than that, more quickly – having already exceeded our 2011 target.
"Last year, we published a Routemap for Renewable Energy for Scotland, outlining how we would meet the equivalent of 100% of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020. Today, we are publishing an update to that Routemap. It shows clearly the progress that has been made in the last year."
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The First Minister said the expansion of renewables in Scotland is essential for the country’s energy security, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability.
DECC statistics have shown Scotland met 35% of its electricity demand from renewables in 2011. This beat the previous interim target of 31% by the end of 2011.
Salmond said Scotland had a "massive economic opportunity" for renewables and to build on the current 11,000 jobs in green energy.
"Ofgem predicted earlier this month that by 2015 the UK’s electricity generation might exceed peak demand by only 4%. That’s a steep decline from today’s 14% and even that 4% margin is only achieved by ending electricity exports to Ireland.
"The position for Scotland is very different. By 2015 our generation capacity could exceed peak demand by approximately 35%. This underlines that renewables, alongside our other generation sources, is crucial to energy security in Scotland. It’s also crucial to the UK.
The First Minister added: "Everything that the Scottish Government does – our long-term targets and our significant financial support for developing renewables – is designed to maximise those advantages, and to encourage jobs and investment. We have listened to the renewables industry, and we have worked to make Scotland one of the best places in the world to invest."
(IT)
