Renewables targets unachievable

HIGHLAND economist Tony Mackay has reiterated his view that Scotland’s ambitious renewable energy targets are unrealistic and unattainable.

The government wants 100 per cent of Scotland’s electricity consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020.

But in a recent submission to a Scottish Parliament inquiry Mr Mackay said that it was more than likely that coal, gas and nuclear were to provide more than 50 per cent of energy well beyond 2020.

“We predict that will rise to 38 per cent by 2020, which is clearly a long way short of the Government’s 100 per cent target.

“It seems to us that we shall always need to generate the country’s base load electricity requirements from the thermal and nuclear power stations. The renewables, notably wind power, cannot do that,” he said.

According to the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). 22 per cent of electricity used in Scotland’s was generated from renewable sources (mainly wind and hydro), in 2010.