Scotland's renewables save 8.4m tonnes of CO2 in 2011

Oct 22, 2012 - Scotland's renewable electricity generation offset 8.36 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2011, Scottish Renewables said today, citing figures obtained in response to a parliamentary question.

The figures show that wind, hydro and other renewable power projects in Scotland displaced 15% of the country's overall carbon emissions, which were 55.7 million tonnes in 2010, the industry body said. Renewable energy offsets the carbon dioxide emissions from Longannet, Scotland's largest fossil fuel power plant, which amount to 8.5 million tonnes per year. The effect is also equivalent to taking about 3.5 million cars, more than those licensed in Scotland, off the roads, the announcement says.

Scottish Renewables senior policy manager Joss Blamire noted that renewable electricity accounted for more than one third of the consumption of Scotland's homes and businesses and said that the figures confirmed that the Scottish renewables industry was establishing itself as one of the strongest weapons in fighting climate change.

According to the figures, in England, renewable electricity displaced 10.63 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions last year, while for Wales the figure is 1.34 million tonnes.

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