100% renewable electricity by 2020: Environment groups lay down challenge to Scottish Government

Speaking today (20 September) at a Scotland Europa conference on ‘Scotland’s route to 2050: Contributing to Europe’s low carbon energy future’, Friends of the Earth Scotland Chief Executive Duncan McLaren challenged the Scottish Government to set a new target for renewable electricity supply in Scotland.

McLaren said: “Scotland can be a renewables powerhouse for Europe. Our current target is no longer driving increased ambition, but creating uncertainty in the industry. It’s time to raise our game, and commit to producing more than 100% of our domestic electricity from renewables by 2020.

“Even providing over 100% of the electricity we need from renewables will still be equivalent to only 63% of the electricity expected to be generated in Scotland in 2020. We want to see the Government setting targets for 100% renewable generation by 2030.”

Research (in press) for Friends of the Earth Scotland, WWF Scotland and RSPB Scotland shows that with only moderate additional effort the country could be generating more electricity from renewable sources than it consumes in total, with a surplus for export.

Commenting, Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland, said: “Scotland’s renewable potential is massive, even while protecting treasured wildlife and landscapes. Delivering on this potential is the key to a low carbon economic recovery for Scotland, and the delivery of our ambitious climate change targets.”

RSPB Scotland’s Head of Policy Lloyd Austin added: “With such potential, our focus should be on sustainable deployment of renewables, and proposals for new conventional power generation, such as the Hunterston coal plant should be rejected.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Scotland Europa / European Climate Foundation Conference, “SCOTLAND’S ROUTE TO 2050: CONTRIBUTING TO EUROPE’S LOW CARBON ENERGY FUTURE” takes place in the Scottish Parliament on Monday 20th September
www.2050roadmap.eventbrite.com/

WWF Scotland is aiming for a future where humans and nature live in harmony, thriving within their fair share of the Earth’s natural resources, a One Planet Future with rich biodiversity – a green future, not a grey one.
wwfscotland.org.uk

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment.
www.rspb.org.uk

Friends of the Earth Scotland exists to help people in Scotland look after the planet for everyone’s future. We think globally and act locally in Scotland, delivering solutions to climate change by enabling and empowering people to take both individual and collective action. We offer help to people with the big things in life helping to sustain a healthy society and environment. We believe that all of our children’s futures will be better because of what we do.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk