Scotland’s renewable energy generation in the first half of 2024 reached a record high of 18,084 GWh, the latest statistics show.
The figure is up 13.7% from the first six months of 2023 and eclipsed the previous first-half record in 2022.
Meanwhile, renewable electricity capacity increased by 5% from June 2023 to 15.6 GW in June 2024. This was largely due to increases in onshore and offshore wind.
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Acting Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “These are hugely encouraging figures, with the long-term trend showing a significant increase in the amount of renewable electricity generated in Scotland.
“Renewable energy capacity has also increased by 5% since June last year, and there are currently more than 800 renewable electricity projects, with an estimated capacity of more than 50 gigawatts, in the planning and construction pipeline.
“This underlines the potential of our energy transition to support high-quality green jobs.
“Scotland’s total final energy consumption continues to fall and was 18% lower in 2022 than the baseline figure from 2005-2007.
“This combination of reduced consumption and greater renewables capacity will be essential to delivering our net zero ambitions.”
Scotland has a legally-set target of reaching net zero by 2045, but ministers were recently forced to abandon an interim target of cutting emissions by 75% by 2030 after it became “beyond credible” to achieve.
On Thursday, construction work began on the £4.3 billion Eastern Green Link underwater electricity cable, which stretches from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire to Yorkshire.
The 500km-long installation is described as the UK’s single biggest ever electricity transmission project and is designed to take renewable power to areas of high demand.
SSE says it will be fully energised and operational in 2029.
