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 generate 100% of the country's gross electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2020. The country fell short of this lofty goal, as only (!!) 97,4% of its gross electricity consumption came from clean sources energy. Scottish Renewables, the commercialbody for Scotland's renewable energy industry, it's mentioned that in 2020 had an increase of 8% compared to data for 2019.
Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack added that the industry has "more than doubled its renewable electricity generation" and generated "enough to power the equivalent of more than 7 million households". THE air remains the leading renewable energy source for the country, although hydropower saw the biggest growth last year.
Scottish authorities hope that renewable energy sources can meet 50 percent 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 goal, 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, WWF Scotland's Director of Climate and Energy Policy, is calling for the roll-out of electric cars (EVs) to be accelerated and more subsidies for renewable heating. These could help Scotland rely more on renewables for heating and transport, and lower emissions from those sources.