Renewable energy production drops in Scotland
September 30, 2011
The total amount of renewable energy produced from wind and hydro power schemes in Scotland fell last year.
Despite a sharp increase in the number of wind turbines installed, there was only a 6% increase in the amount of power they produced.
Low rainfall, meanwhile, meant hydro production fell by a third.
Energy production figures also showed a decline in oil and gas production earlier this year, which industry leaders described as "worrying".
The statistics from Whitehall's Department of Energy and Climate Change showed the second quarter of this year saw some of the sharpest falls on record of oil and gas production from under UK waters.
Oil production was down 16% and gas by 25% compared with the second quarter of 2010.
This was attributed to planned maintenance as well as emptying oil reservoirs.
The amount of renewable energy produced in Scotland has increased sharply since 2003, before dropping back last year.
Richard Yemm, founder of the wave energy firm Pelamis Wave Power, said: "Renewable energy sources depend on weather conditions year to year and it is well understood that the best way to stabilise and guarantee renewable energy supply is to diversify the mix of technologies installed.
"That's why these figures emphasise the need for Scotland to push forward with the commercialisation of marine energy, which is inherently more predictable, and mixes well with other sources."
He added: "The sooner we can include wave power as a significant proportion of the UK's energy mix, the more secure our renewable energy supplies will become."
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