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The findings by WWF Scotland, using data provided by WeatherEnergy, found that for the month of January, wind turbines provided around 1,307,629MWh of electricity to the National Grid, which is enough to meet the electrical needs of 146% of Scottish households – or 3.5 million homes – on average. Compared to January 2014, this is a surge of 27%.
Maximum output was said to have occurred on 14 January, with an estimated generation of 60,800MWh – enough to supply five million homes. Meanwhile, minimum output was on 19 January, when generation was an estimated 8,371MWh, enough to supply 688,931 homes.
Overall, on 24 out of 31 days last month, there was enough wind generated output to supply 100% or more of homes in Scotland. On two of the days, output was equivalent to more than 200%.
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For those homes fitted with solar PV panels, there was enough sunshine in January to generate around 37% of the electricity needs of an Aberdeen, with 30% in Glasgow, and 24% in Edinburgh. In addition, for homes fitted with solar hot water panels, there was enough sunshine in Aberdeen to generate an estimated 45% of an average households hot water needs, with 29% in Edinburgh.
Lang Banks, WWF Scotland Director, explained: "While January's wintry weather caused havoc for many people, it also proved to be a good month for wind power output in Scotland, with enough pollution-free electricity generated to supply the needs of 146% of Scottish households.
"Even better, wind output was up by a quarter compared to the same period last year. Even on calmer days, when wind wasn't at its strongest, wind still generated enough to support the electricity needs of more than a quarter of our households.
"While January's wind output may have got 2015 off to a flyer, it's important to remember that household electricity demand only makes up two-fifths of Scotland's total needs. So, if we are to meet Scotland's aspiration to generate all of our electricity needs from renewables we still need to see more renewables deployed alongside a step change in energy efficiency."
(JP/IT)
