Scotland is on track to hit 100% renewable energy this year

This piece first appeared on Windstream.

Renewable electricity in Scotland hit a new high of 95% in November compared to 45% a year earlier, National Grid (NG) said Thursday.

Thanks to a recent rise in electricity demand and more wind energy being installed, the total number of commissioned renewable energy generating plants across the country rose to 865 as of November from 738 a year earlier, NGT said.

Total renewable generation capacity reached 98% at the end of November, up from 92% at the end of November 2011.

“Scotland has recovered strongly from the recession,” Jeremy Stevens, Chief Executive of the National Grid, said. “This latest increase brings Scotland’s share of fully legally regulated solar generation to nearly 80%. It also surpasses the national average of 61% for one turbine.”

The wholesale energy prices for Scotland’s clean energy generation rose by only 3.5% over the year, compared to a rise of 46% for the rest of the UK. The wind power rate per kilowatt hour of electricity is £6.09 and the average price per kilowatt hour of electricity for wind generation was £1.89, the latest yearly report, running from August 1 to November 30, 2012, shows.

Scotland still has the best energy efficiency record in the UK, contributing 77% to average household energy bills. But the average benefit of low gas and fuel costs over the year was £363.22, compared to the UK average of £677.19.

While Britain's share of the renewable energy generated by running its electricity transmission system hit its highest level since records began in 2000, the Scottish system is still far more expensive than in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.