A renewables ‘revolution’ has continued to build pace in Scotland according to WWF Scotland after data covering May showed that generation from solar and wind assets provided a significant proportion of energy.
Rooftop solar panels in towns and cities across Scotland were able to generate more than the average home’s demand for electricity throughout May in the “extraordinary month for renewables”.
Meanwhile wind turbines provided 863,494.63MWh of electricity to the National Grid, enough to supply, on average, the electrical needs of 95% of Scottish households and almost 20% up year-on-year.
Analysis of solar data by WeatherEnergy found that homes in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and more were able to generate over 100% of the average household electricity demand, with rooftop solar in Lerwick on the Shetland Islands producing the most kWh last month.
Solar PV data for May 2017. Data provided by WWF Scotland/WeatherEnergy.
For those homes fitted with solar thermal, there was enough sunshine to generate over 90% of an average household’s hot water needs in the same locations.
Following the decision by President Donald Trump to pull America out of the Paris climate change agreement, WWF Scotland’s acting director Dr Sam Gardner claimed the latest results showed the clean energy transition would continue at pace.
“Thanks to a super sunny month, solar was on sizzling form and could have met more than 100% of household electricity demand in towns and cities across Scotland,” he said.
“Despite the disappointment of last week’s announcement that President Trump is to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement, the global energy revolution is unstoppable and continues at pace here in Scotland.”
Wind generated enough output to supply 100% or more of Scottish homes on eleven out of the 31 days of May. Output on 15 May in particular generated enough to electricity to power 190% of homes or 99% of Scotland’s total electricity demand.
Karen Robinson of WeatherEnergy said: “Scotland again managed to pump out clean power by the bucket load during May. While people might not be too surprised to learn solar power output was up in May, they might be surprised to discover that wind power output was also pretty impressive. When it comes to renewables in Scotland, it would appear the sun does indeed have his hat on.”
