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Scotland 'can meet 50% renewable energy by 2050'

A 500 per cent increase in the number of wind farms is needed for Scotland to hit its target of generating 50 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020, according to a new study.

The report, published by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), claims that the country can meet that target and exceed it to export electricity to England and Northern Ireland.

To achieve this it will have to add around 450 megawatts of new wind power every year until 2020.

Iain Duff, SCDI's chief economist, said: "This study shows that Scotland can hit its ambitious targets to produce 50 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020, but only if we see investment in new generation on an unprecedented scale in recent times."

He added: "With £10bn of investment in new generation over the next twelve years, there is a real opportunity for Scotland to lead the global renewables industry. We now have to make sure that Scotland’s businesses are ready to win a significant amount of the design, manufacture and construction renewable generation."

Scotland has aimed to generate 20 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, compared to UK's overall 15 per cent target.

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