2012 was a record-breaking year for renewable energy in Scotland, according to statistics released by the government.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has released figures which show the first three quarters of 2012 generated 15.2% more electricity than the same period in 2011, the previous record breaking year.

Renewables made up 36.3% of gross electricity consumption in 2011.

The government had set a target of generating the equivalent of 31% for that year.

This will go towards Scotland’s 2020 target of the equivalent of 100% electricity needs met from renewable energy.


Scottish renewable electricity made up 39.9% of the UK’s renewable energy generation in 2011. Scotland continues to be a net exporter of electricity, exporting over 26% of generation in 2011, up from 21% in 2010.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "These figures show that renewable energy in Scotland is going from strength to strength, confirming that 2011 was a record year for generation in Scotland and that 2012 looks set to be even better.

"The Scottish Government is giving industry the certainty it needs to invest in Scotland. Scotland’s clean green energy resources are delivering thousands of jobs and hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment to communities across Scotland.

"Recent industry figures show renewable energy investment in Scotland is now set to exceed £1bn in 2012 alone. The list of recent companies investing – or planning to invest – in Scotland’s renewable energy future shows that Scotland is increasingly the destination of choice for renewable energy investment."

(IT)