Scottish Renewable Projects Break Records in 2011

---

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) -- Scotland is celebrating its strongest year ever for the rollout of renewable energy projects and estimates that its pipeline for future projects is worth over €55 billion ($71.7 billion).

Figures just released by the Scottish government show that the year to October 2011 saw a record breaking €900.5 million ($1.17 billion) of investment in renewable energy projects. The Scottish government has set out very ambitious plans for the adoption of renewable energy and has a goal of getting 100% of its gross annual electricity from renewables by 2020. This will require around 16,000-megawatts (MW) of capacity.

Today, there is currently 7000 MW of renewable projects operational, under construction or consented. There is also a pipeline of proposed projects with a potential generating capacity of 17,000 MW.

"2011 has been an exceptional year for renewable energy in Scotland - truly the best year yet," commented Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing.

"We have seen momentous progress towards our goal of generating the equivalent of 100 per cent of Scotland's electricity needs from renewables by 2020, as well as electricity generation from other energy technologies," Ewing added. "In March 2011 the Scottish Government consented the world's largest tidal energy array in Islay. ScottishPower's £40 million project will generate enough electricity for 5,000 homes - double the number on Islay.

"But most importantly we have taken real steps to ensure that communities all over Scotland will benefit from the renewable energy generated in their area, with a community benefit register which will help empower communities, as well as loans projects to help them develop renewable energy projects of their own."

Just last month the Crown Estate, which manages the U.K.'s seabed approved of five more offshore sites with a combined capacity of 5,000 MW in Scottish waters. So far, projects that have secured agreements for leases in Scottish waters amount to almost 10,000 MW. For additional information see November 2, 2011, article - Approval Given for Five Offshore Wind Sites in Scotland.

View Plant Profile - 1084353 1084274 1084422 3026346 1084352
View Project Report - 78000532 78000530 78000536 300033110 78000533

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, and eight offices outside of North America, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.