Scotland's Wind Could Power Every Home Across Scotland and North of England

Scotland’s renewable electricity output soared in the first half of the year, providing enough energy to power homes from Harris to Harrogate, said WWF Scotland today (Mon 15 Jul).

The figures, provided by Weather Energy, show that between January and June wind turbines provided enough electricity to power the equivalent of 4.47million homes for those six months. That is nearly twice the number of homes in Scotland (There are 2.46million households in Scotland). Or equivalent to the number of homes in Scotland as well as much of those in the north of England (There are 2.01million households in the English local authority areas north of a line between Blackpool and York).

Robin Parker, Climate and Energy Policy Manager said: “These are amazing figures, Scotland’s wind energy revolution is clearly continuing to power ahead. Up and down the country, we are all benefitting from cleaner energy and so is the climate. These figures show harnessing Scotland’s plentiful onshore wind potential can provide clean green electricity for millions of homes across not only Scotland, but England as well.   It’s about time the UK Government stepped up and gave Scottish onshore wind a route to market.”

Alex Wilcox Brooke, Weather Energy Project Manager at Severn Wye Energy Agency said: “These figures really highlight the consistency of wind energy in Scotland and why it now plays a major part in the UK energy market.”  

The figures released today come hot on the heels of the UK enjoying the longest ever period with-out coal power.