Onshore wind turbines in Scotland are set for another bumper year of generation, with figures for the first three months of 2018 revealing a 44 per cent uptick in wind power output compared to the same time last year.
New data released today from WWF Scotland shows onshore wind turbines provided 5,353,997MWh of green electricity to the National Grid during the first quarter of 2018, enough power to provide the equivalent of five million homes with low-carbon electricity.
Wind power hit its peak for the quarter on March 1, when generation totalled 110,149MWh – 173 per cent of Scotland’s entire electricity demand. Even on the worst day for wind during the quarter, January 11, turbines still generated enough electricity to power more than 575,000 homes.
“Renewables have provided an incredible amount of power during the first three months of this year,” Sam Gardner, WWF Scotland’s acting director, said in a statement. “An increase of 44 per cent on the record-breaking equivalent period in 2017 is clear evidence the investment made in this technology has paid off for the economy and the environment, putting Scotland at the forefront of the fight against climate change.”
The news follows data showing that wind and solar power generation overtook nuclear during the final quarter of last year to become the UK’s second highest source of electricity – behind gas – for the first time ever.
Source: businessgreen.com
