In 2023 Scotland increased its renewable energy production and continues to generate more than its needs.
Renewable generation increased by 10% , with wind, Onshore and Offshore, contributing to 75% of power produced. Hydro is the second largest contributor at 14%.
Scotland’s net exports of electricity to other UK nations in 2023 amounted to 15.9 TWh (Terrawatt-hour is a unit of energy which represents one trillion watts of power used for one hour.) and worth £1.5billion.
It was a game of two halves as the first half of 2023 saw a drop in generation due to extreme weather which was made up in the second half of the year with a record increase. Renewable electricity generation has nearly doubled since 2013.
Scotland exported 17.7 TWh of electricity and imported 1.8 TWh of electricity in 2023. Scotland’s net electricity exports in 2023 had an indicative value of £1.5 billion.
Energy Minister in the Scottish Government Gillian Martin said:
“A 10% increase in capacity and net exports worth an estimated £1.5 billion shows that the Scottish Government’s focus on growing the green economy is paying off.
“We will ensure Scotland continues to capitalise in a sustainable way on its natural resources to underpin the just transition to net zero, provide jobs, benefit communities and support economic growth.
“To help Scotland reap the economic benefits of this expansion in renewables we are allocating £66.9 million in 2024-25 to kickstart our commitment to invest £500 million over the next five years in Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain.”
Energy Statistics for Scotland – Q4 2023
Key Points
In 2023, there was 15.3 GW of renewable electricity capacity in Scotland – a 10% increase from 13.9 GW in 2022.
As of the end of December 2023, there were 517 renewable electricity generation projects with an estimated capacity of 25.9 GW in the planning pipeline.
Electricity generation from renewable sources in Scotland in 2023 remains strong at 33.3 TWh – a 7% drop from 2022. Record levels of renewable generation were reported in the second half of 2023, which mitigated for the less favourable weather conditions in the first half of 2023.
Scotland continues to generate more electricity than it needs with net exports of electricity to other UK nations in 2023 amounting to 15.9 TWh
In 2021, the latest figures available, 23.7% of total Scottish energy consumption came from renewable sources.
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Given Scotland’s substantial renewable capacity, and significant electricity exports (eg sufficient to run nearly the whole of the north of England’s homes), isn’t it about time we residents saw some of the benefits? Especially as Orkney’s contribution, relatively, to the whole is so high. An independent Orkney grid, anyone?
Orkney is a veritable powerstation, with a lot more potential for generation. I find it annoying that, now Orkney is an exporter of electricity, I would hear locals talking about how only enough electricity to supply the islands should be getting produced. I don’t remember Orkney people complaining about getting the electricity from the mainland. That came from powerstations that belted all that lovely pollution out their chimneys all over Central Scotland. All of Scotland is having to put up with the ever increasing windmills & pylons.
So why is Scotland Electric bill so high then !!!
Electricity price is coupled to gas price see “Good Energy” for a plain language explanation .
It’s past time that prices to business and households were set to reflect the cost of production locally, instead of being based on a wholesale price of producing by the most expensive method (gas). Hiking charges across Scotland for having the audacity of being far from the area of biggest demand, despite generating more than we need by the cheapest methods, is rubbing salt into the wounds.
If only the hard – up residents of Scotland could get their energy for the price other countries are getting it for. Didn’t hear the Minister saying the increase in production would help to cut our bills or even be used for insulating our homes properly. Mind you, if you’re on benefits you can get a grant! Otherwise £7500 grant does not even pay half of a heat pump.