Wind turbines creating enough energy to power all of Scotland for four straight days
New wind power records have been set in Scotland, it has been revealed .
The country set two new wind power records at the end of December, according to data released today by WWF Scotland.
It found wind turbines in Scotland generated power equivalent to all of the nation’s electricity needs for a record four straight days – on 23, 24, 25, and 26 December.
WWF was acting on data provided by the climate information agency WeatherEnergy.
Although wind turbines have previously generated more power than needed in a single day in Scotland, this is the first time that such a feat has been recorded on consecutive days.
The same four-day period also saw a new record set for the most amount of wind-generated power in a single day – on Christmas Eve – with 74,042MWh of electricity sent to the National Grid.
As total electricity demand on Christmas Eve was 56,089MWh it meant that wind turbines generated the equivalent of 132% of Scotland’s total electricity needs that day.
These are two spectacular achievements, which underline the massive progress Scotland is making - Lang Banks
WWF Scotland’s director Lang Banks said: “These are two spectacular achievements, which underline the massive progress Scotland is making in securing an ever increasing proportion of its electricity needs from wind power and other clean renewable sources.
“Scotland can be proud that its record-breaking wind power output at the end of December, and resulting export of excess electricity through interconnectors to England, greatly contributed to what also proved a record-breaking week for wind power across the entire UK.
“Later this month, the Scottish Government is expected to publish its new energy strategy. We hope these latest wind power records embolden ministers to aim high when it comes to the role renewables play in their forthcoming strategy especially in areas beyond the power sector, such as heat and transport.”
Karen Robinson of WeatherEnergy said: “It was only as recently as August 2016 that we first recorded a day where wind powered electricity generation exceeding demand. However, thanks to increasing levels of renewables capacity and improved energy efficiency reducing power demand, we’re starting to see more and more such days.
“Given these figures, now is the time for serious consideration to be given to using more of this excess renewable electricity to help de-carbonise other areas of society, such as powering electric vehicles or heating our homes and businesses using non-fossil fuel technologies.”
