15 July 2019
Press Release
For immediate release
Office: 0131 659 9100
Out of hours: 07771 818677
Email: mcarter@wwfscotland.org.uk
Scotland’s wind could power homes across the UK
SCOTLAND’S WIND COULD POWER EVERY HOME ACROSS SCOTLAND AND NORTH OF ENGLAND
- Scotland’s wind turbines produced enough electricity to power almost double the number of homes in Scotland between January and June 2019
- Wind power output at record high during first 6 months of year.
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). [1]
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. Or equivalent to the number of homes in Scotland as well as much of those in the north of England. [2].
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. [3]
Notes to Editors
[1] Part of a joint project to help the public better understand the nation’s renewable energy resource, the data is provided by WeatherEnergy, part of the European EnergizAIR project, supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme, led by the European Agency for Competiveness and Innovation (EACI). Severn Wye Energy Agency is the UK partner.
http://www.weatherenergy.co.uk
Wind output (MWh)
Load Factor
Number of homes
% of all Scottish households
January – June ‘19
9,831,320MWh
40%
4,47m
182%
June ‘19
1,365,662MWh
33%
3,746,672
153%
May ‘19
1,018,885MWh
24%
2,705,124
110%
April ‘19
1,553,156 MWh
38%
4.26m
174%
March ‘19
2,194,981 MWh
51%
5,827,641
238%
February ‘19
1,860,111 MWh
48%
5,467,598
223%
January ‘19
1,838,525 MWh
43%
4.88 m
199%
[2] There are 2.46million households in Scotland
There are 2.01million households in the English local authority areas north of a line between Blackpool and York
English Local Authority
Number of households
Northumberland
145,500
Carlisle
45,500
Allerdale
42,800
Copeland
31,700
Eden
21,500
County Durham
232,700
Gateshead
89,200
Newcastle
130,800
South Tyneside
66,100
Sunderland
127,200
North Tyneside
82,500
South Lakeland
46,200
Barrow in Furness
28,200
Darlington
47,400
Hartlepool
42,200
Stockton-on-Tees
83,700
Middlesbrough
60,500
Redcar & Cleveland
62,000
Craven
23,000
Hambleton
36,700
Harrogate
66,000
Richmondshire
20,900
Ryedale
22,800
Scarborough
43,100
Lancaster
61,300
Wyre
46,200
Ribble Valley
28,000
Blackpool
62,200
Fylde
33,400
Preston
54,100
Pendle
38,100
York
87,100
[3] UK sets record of going a week without coal
https://news.sky.com/story/uk-sets-new-record-for-days-without-coal-power-11713755