In 2019, the Scottish government revealed that it had an increase of 13.4% of renewable energy, or 30.5 TWh, in 2018. The amount increased by 4.8% in 2019. That generated energy alone was enough to charge more than 6 billion phones a year.
By the end of 2020, the country hopes 100% of its energy will come from renewable sources. So far, they’re doing a great job. In 2009, it was on 27.2%. As for their target, we won’t be able to tell not until data will be published next year.
Between 2017 and 2018, the electricity, transport, and heat energy produced by the country from renewable resources went up to 21.1%. By 2030, Scotland’s ministers aim to have renewable energy to provide for the demand in electricity, heat, and transport energy.
To achieve their goal, Scotland wants to avoid using fossil energy. For now, the only gas-fired station that is running is the one at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire. In 2016, they closed the Longannet Power Station, the last coal-fired station.
Scotland’s main source of renewable energy comes from onshore wind, providing about 70% percent of its capacity. Its largest source is the Beatrice offshore wind farm that creates enough energy to power 450,000 homes. Another wind farm is under way and is bigger, the Seagreen Wind Farm. When construction is complete, this wind farm will be able to power 1.3 million homes.
While the UK targets to bring all its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, Scotland set its target 5 years ahead of the UK’s. Other countries also have ambitions with their goal regarding net zero emissions, but Scotland has higher ambitions as it also wants to include emissions from aviation and shipping. The country has just updated their Climate Change Plan, adding more than 100 new policies and proposals to support’s Scotland’s switch to green energy and achieve net zero.
However, despite the Scottish government’s great efforts, there is still a long way to go. So far, greenhouse gas emissions have been cut to about half than what they were 30 years ago, but this progress was only achieved by making the most economical or publicly acceptable changes. If they really want to achieve net zero, they will need to make harder decisions. That means they need to address the issues in the transport, agriculture, and business industries. This will be a difficult decision as a huge chunk of the country’s economy relies on the oil and gas industry.