Scotland’s massive wind energy capacity is capable of producing vast amounts of clean, sustainable energy to the rest of Europe. Due to Scotland’s strong winds, skilled workforce, well-developed energy infrastructure and welcoming investment environment, the country has attracted overseas companies like Doosan, Gamesa and Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe. With over 25 percent of Europe’s wind resource Scotland has the potential to generate 159 GW of power which is almost 15 times Scotland’s own peak requirement (10.5 GW).
Scotland intends to produce all of its electricity requirements from renewable sources by 2020 and to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
Right now Scotland produces over half of its renewable energy capacity. In total there are 80 wind farms and an additional 7 GW of onshore wind energy capacity is currently under construction or planned.
Whitelee wind farm near Glasgow is Europe’s largest wind farm generating 322 MW of electricity, this will increase to 593 MW from 215 turbines when a planned expansion is complete. The world’s largest wind farm is being built off the coast of Caithness.
© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
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