Renewable electricity generation in the first half of 2012 increased by almost 13% when compared with the corresponding period in 2011, according to the Scottish government.

2011 had previously been Scotland’s record year, however the latest figures from the Department for Energy and Climate Change show that Scotland’s renewable generation for the first and second quarter of this year was 12.8% higher, at 806GWh, than in 2011.

According to the government, the statistics translate as enough renewable electricity having been generated to power the equivalent of an extra 147,000 homes for a whole year.

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The figures also confirm that around 35% of Scottish electricity demand in 2011 was met from renewables; exceeding the target of 31%.

Around 14,000GWh of electricity was generated during this period: enough to power the equivalent of approximately 2.5m homes for a year, according to statistics released by Holyrood.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

"These statistics show once again that Scotland leads the world in renewable energy generation, and that our industry goes from strength to strength.

"The Scottish Government has the ambitious, but achievable target of generating the equivalent of 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020, as well as more from other sources, and we are determined to ensure communities all over Scotland reap the benefit from renewable energy.

"Scotland has hit the natural lottery twice, first with oil and gas and with our green energy resources. We have a responsibility to make sure our nation seizes this opportunity to create tens of thousands of new jobs and secure billions of pounds of investment in our economy."

(IT)