Proposed wind farm furthers Scotland’s renewables drive

The Scottish government announced last week that over 27% of the country’s electricity needs are supplied by renewable energy sources.

The country is a major exporter of electricity, with 24% of its generated electricity being exported in 2009. This level of production is combined with a serendipitous potential for developing clean energy schemes; the coast of Scotland is estimated to have a quarter of Europe's potential offshore wind power and tidal capacity and a tenth of its wave energy resource.

Scotland is currently on track to meet the ambitious targets it set itself for renewable energy production.  In September, First Minister Alex Salmond announced that it would raise its prospected renewable energy targets by 30%, aiming to generate 80% of the country’s energy cleanly by 2020.

In a press release today, the government revealed plans to build the 3-turbine, 99-Megawatt Dunmaglass wind farm, which will provide double the energy needed to power Inverness, 20 miles from the site.

Energy Minister Jim Mather said "This is another step on the road to a low carbon Scotland, with a further 46,000 homes set to be powered by clean, green electricity... This is exactly the type of development that works with local communities to transform Scotland to a low carbon economy and drive economic growth."

Provided sites that are proposed and currently under construction come to fruition, Scotland will exceed its interim targets of generating 31% of its energy from renewable sources by the end of 2011. The government’s Energy Consents and Deployment Unit is currently processing 34 applications (24 onshore wind, 5 hydro and 5 thermal).