Scotland is set to miss it's 100% renewable electricity target without more investment in onshore and offshore wind, according to a Scottish Renewables (SR) report.

The industry body's research shows Scotland is on schedule to generate 87% of its annual demand for power from renewables by 2020.

However, the report highlights the need for further support from the UK Government if the target it to be met.

The 2020 figure was announced in 2011 by former First Minister Alex Salmond, who said: "Because the pace of development has been so rapid, with our 2011 target already exceeded, we can now commit to generating the equivalent of 100 per cent of Scotland's own electricity demand from renewable resources by 2020."


However, the target is not legally binding and therefore there are no penalties for missing it.

Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, Niall Stuart, said: "The 100% target has provided a powerful focus for government, industry and supporting bodies like HIE and Scottish Enterprise, and really put Scotland's renewable energy industry on the map.  However, current projections show that we’re not going to meet it unless we get more projects going ahead between now and 2020.

"There are consented schemes onshore and offshore that could get us there, but they can only go ahead if they are allocated a long term contract for their power.

"The industry had expected an auction round for contracts this autumn, but UK ministers postponed that, and we are still unsure if and when that will go ahead which is inevitably impacting on investor confidence across the industry.

"If we don't start the process by next spring, the delay could fatally undermine the timeline for the projects on Scotland's main island groups, ending prospects for major developments on the Western Isles and Shetland. It would also raise serious questions about whether the proposed offshore wind projects can make the 2020 deadline."

(LM/CD)