Scotland's renewable energy sources accounted for 97% of demand by 2020. The country had set a target of 100%, but failed, but the coverage rate was much better than last year.
In 2011, Scotland set a goal for itself related to green energy. To create 100% of the country's gross electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2020. The country failed to achieve this high goal, as only (!!) 97,4% of gross electricity consumption came from clean sources energy. Scottish Renewables, Scotland's commercial renewable energy business, it's mentioned that in 2020 had an increase of 8% compared to the data for 2019.
Scottish Renewables CEO Claire Mack added that the industry has "more than doubled its electricity generation from renewable sources" and has created "enough to power the equivalent of more than 7 million households". Wind remains the country's top renewable energy source, although hydropower grew the most last year.
The Scottish authorities hope that renewable energy can meet 50 per cent of the country's energy needs for electricity, heat and transport by 2030. The country has a lot of work to do to achieve this, especially when it comes to for transport and heating.
Mack said that "domestic and commercial transport accounted for almost 25% of the energy used in Scotland, with heat accounting for more than half and more than half of the gas emissions". Currently, renewables cover only 6,5 percent of non-electric heat demand. "The technologies we need to replace gas in our homes now exist, but developing them across the country is a huge task," Mack said. "Industry and government must continue to work together to meet the challenges that exist, if we are to make full use of our potential, meet zero by 2045 and achieve a smooth energy transition."
Holly O'Donnell, Climate and Energy Policy Director at WWF Scotland, is calling for electric car (EV) acceleration and more subsidies for renewable heating. These could help Scotland rely more on renewable energy for heating and transportation, as well as lower emissions from these sources.
