Energy Minister Details Vital Role Of Scotland’s Renewables Sector

The UK will need Scotland’s greenenergy to help keep its lights onwhatever the constitutional futureholds, Energy Minister FergusEwing has told the UKParliament’s Committee onEnergy and Climate Change. Giving evidence to its inquiry intoenergy and climate change in anindependent Scotland, Mr Ewingtold the Committee that industryregulator Ofgem has shownhousehold energy bills will belower with more renewable energythan if we maintain the status quo. Mr Ewing said that meetingScotland’s target of 100% ofelectricity demand coming fromrenewables by 2020 will make up30% of the UK Government’srenewable electricity requirements. Last month, new figures showedthat Scotland is ahead of scheduleon its targets, with 35% ofScotland’s electricity needscoming from renewables in 2011,beating the interim target of 31%. Energy Minster Fergus Ewingsaid: “Renewable energy is vital toScotland and to the rest of the UK.It is essential if we are to keep billsdown for ordinary families, boostthe economy and meet our climatechange targets. The UnitedKingdom needs Scotland’srenewable energy whatever theconstitutional future holds – andwe will all be much poorer if we donot make the most of therenewable energy revolution. “The job and investmentopportunities that renewableenergy provides to Scotland aretoo good to miss, with Gamesarecently deciding to invest inEdinburgh rather than Hartlepool,bringing around 800 new jobs toScotland. And for consumers,Ofgem’s Project Discovery hasshown that renewable energy willactually lead to cheaper energy inthe future than carrying on withtraditional energy sources. “Scotland is already helpingEngland to keep its lights on,exporting 20.8% of our electricityin 2010 alone, and this number isset to rise as we approach ourambitious but achievable 2020energy targets. ”Figures show bills for gas andelectricity rose by £445 between2004 and 2010, and that two-thirdsof this rise was the result ofincreases in wholesale costs –precisely why we need to invest inour own secure energy supply. “Renewable incentives add only£15-20 to annual household utilitybills in Scotland – a valuableinvestment in keeping future billsdown.” Scotland exported 20.8% ofelectricity generated in 2010 toEngland and Northern Ireland. Industry figures show £750 millionwas invested in renewable energyin Scotland in 2011, and a recentScottish Renewables reportshowed that the renewablesindustry supports 11,000 jobs.