Scottish wind output sets May record, WWF calls for onshore wind rethink

Wind power generation in Scotland rose 83% year-on-year last month, setting a record for the month of May, WWF Scotland said on Monday as it called on the UK government to rethink its plans to curb onshore wind.

Increased capacity and strong winds saw Scottish wind turbines generate 924,405 MWh of electricity in May, according to an analysis by the environmental group of data provided by WeatherEnergy. This is enough to meet the power needs of more than 2.45 million homes, or 101% of Scottish households.

Wind power was able to meet 47% of Scotland's total electricity demand, including homes, business and industry for May, which amounted to 1,954,401 MWh.

WWF Scotland's director Lang Banks warned that the continued development of onshore wind in Scotland was at risk due to UK plans to end support for the technology earlier than planned. "Cutting support now for the lowest cost renewable technology would be a backwards step that will either see consumer bills rise or our climate targets missed," he said. Banks also called on the Scottish government to continue to support onshore wind development at home and press the UK government to rethink its plans.

The UK government is expected shortly to say how it will deliver its pre-election pledge to end new subsidies for onshore wind farms.

Last week, Scotland's energy minister, Fergus Ewing, sought clarity on onshore wind subsidy changes. In a letter to the new UK Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, he said it would be irrational to stop supporting the cheapest clean energy technology in the UK and warned that any changes to earlier-agreed subsidies would lead to investment uncertainty.

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