Scotland commits to 100% renewable electricity by 2020
Wednesday 18 May 2011By EU Reporter energy correspondent.
The new Scottish Government's 2020 renewable electricity target has been raised to 100 per cent,
First Minister Alex Salmond said today as he pledged to move "still faster and further" to secure Scotland's place as the green energy powerhouse of Europe.
Mr Salmond also launched an online portal showcasing Scotland's burgeoning offshore wind sector and announced the signing of a new strategic agreement between the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney and the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) in Nova Scotia, Canada, to collaborate on the development and deployment of power generation from the sea.
The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) welcomed the announcement of the Scottish Government that it is raising its renewable electricity target to 100 per cent.
Julian Scola, EWEA Communications Director, said “If Scotland aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2020, Europe could surely do the same for 2050.
Commissioner Oettinger should take note and propose it in his forthcoming Energy Roadmap.”
“The European Commission’s ‘Roadmap for moving to a Low Carbon Economy’ talks about a fully decarbonised power sector by 2050.
Commissioner Oettinger’s Energy Roadmap – due out in November – should go one step further and propose a 100% renewable electricity sector.”