Wind generates enough electricity to supply 97 per cent of households in 2015

Wind turbines provided enough electricity to supply the needs of 97 per cent of Scottish households in 2015, according to new figures.

WWF Scotland analysis of WeatherEnergy data shows that overall yearly wind power output was up 16 per cent compared to the year before, while solar power met half or more of household electricity or hot water needs during seven months of 2015.

Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said: “With 2016 being a critical year politically, we’d like to see each of the political parties back policies that would enable Scotland become the EU's first fully renewable electricity nation by 2030.

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“December will be rightly remembered for the damage done by the extreme weather, so it won’t surprise many to learn it also turned out to be a record-breaking month for wind power output. For 2015 as a whole, thanks to an increase in installed capacity, overall wind power output broke all previous records and was up by almost a fifth year-on-year.”

In 2015 Scotland consumed 25,161,916MWh of electricity, meaning wind power generated the equivalent of 41 per cent of the country’s total needs.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “Scotland’s renewables sector is stronger than ever and our early adoption of clean, green energy technology and infrastructure was the right thing to do.

He added: “Despite damaging policy changes from the UK Government, we will continue to harness – and bolster – Scotland’s renewables potential, both in generation and infrastructure.

“Devolved administrations, like the Scottish Government, will be strong drivers of a progressive climate agenda. A low carbon economy is more than just a practical way forward – green energy plays a crucial role in the security of Scotland’s energy supply.”