Sign up to FREE email alerts from businessInsider - Daily Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

More than half of the total electricity consumed in Scotland last year came from renewable energy projects, ahead of a key 50 per cent target set by Ministers, new figures show.

Statistics published by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change show renewable energy projects now generate the equivalent of 57.7 per cent of Scotland’s power needs, based on 2014 consumption figures.

Latest figures show total power generated from renewable energy projects in Scotland rose 15.2 per cent last year to 2.9 terawatt hours (TWh).

Scottish renewable capacity was 7.7 gigawatts (GW) in 2015, up 5.5 per cent – 0.4 GW – on 2014, and more than half the increase was “due to the deployment of additional solar PV capacity throughout the year”.

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change figures show renewables’ share of electricity generation overall across the UK rose to 24.7 per cent last year, from 19.1 per cent in 2014, which it put down to “increased capacity”.

Total electricity generated from renewables in 2015 was up 29 per cent on 2014, from 64.7 TWh to a “record” 83.3 TWh.

However overall electricity generation across all generation methods fell 0.4 per cent, “as a result of lower overall demand” which served to contribute “around 0.1 percentage points of the 5.6 percentage point increase in renewables’ share”.

Industry trade body Scottish Renewables said the latest figures suggest Scotland is now more than halfway towards it target of producing the equivalent of 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Jenny Hogan, director of policy at Scottish Renewables, said: “This is another important milestone for our industry and shows renewables are now a mainstream part of our power sector.

“There is still a huge amount of potential for future growth, if the industry is given the right backing by government.”

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "It's fantastic news to learn that Scotland has continued to grow its use of renewables and now generates well over half of its annual electricity needs from clean energy sources.

“Ahead of May's elections we need all political parties to continue to prioritise renewables and commit to ensuring Scotland secures the benefits of becoming the EU's first fully renewable electricity nation by 2030.

“Independent research has shown that it is possible for Scotland to have a secure, efficient electricity system, based on almost entirely renewable electricity generation, by 2030.

“Embracing that vision would maximise the opportunities to create new jobs, empower communities and support local economic renewal throughout the country.”