SALMOND ENVISAGES 100% OF ELECTRICITY COMING FROM RENEWABLES

SCOTLAND Energy
Sep 28, 2010 2:45:54 AM
By Karl Mansfield, Press Association Scotland




First Minister Alex Salmond said today he was "confident" 100% of
Scotland's electricity needs would come from renewable power by 2025.


Mr Salmond was speaking ahead of an international conference, taking
place today and tomorrow, which will debate low carbon developments and
renewable energy projects.


Last week, the target to generate electricity from renewable sources was
lifted to a new high for Scotland.


The Scottish Government now wants 80% of electricity consumption to come
from renewables, such as wind and wave power, by 2020 - up from the
previous 50% target.


Around 500 delegates are expected to attend the Scottish Low Carbon
Investment conference, which takes place at Edinburgh International
Conference Centre.


An animated film has also been commissioned by the organisers of the
conference to open the event.


The film is based on the Scottish Government's National Renewables
Infrastructure Plan.


Mr Salmond said: "Scotland has unrivalled green energy resources and our
new national target to generate 80% of electricity needs from renewables
by 2020 will be exceeded by delivering current plans for wind, wave and
tidal generation.


"But Scotland's ambitions go much further. Indeed, I'm confident that by
2025 we will produce at least 100% of our electricity needs from
renewables alone, and together with other sources it will enable us to
become a net exporter of clean, green energy."


The First Minister said a previous study had shown that by 2050 Scotland
could produce up to seven times its domestic power needs through
offshore renewable energy.


And he added: "A key issue - and the key focus of the conference - is to
mobilise finance to secure the estimated GBP200 billion of private
investment needed to seize this once in a generation opportunity.


"Investment on this scale established today's North Sea oil and gas
industry. Scotland's second wave of offshore energy offers unique
investment opportunities to do so again and I'm confident that those
will be grasped."


The conference, which the First Minister opens today, will provide a
forum for government, international finance, utilities and developers to
engage directly, bringing projects and investors together. It is
supported by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.


Ron Hewitt, chief executive of conference organisers Edinburgh Chamber
of Commerce, spoke about the animated film which will be shown at the
start of the event.


He explained: "We thought that it would be interesting to create a short
film which gives a flavour of how Scotland might look as the plan to
develop our low carbon economy takes shape.


"It takes us on a virtual helicopter ride over Scotland, looking at the
development of biomass in Dundee, offshore wind off the north east
coast, wave and tidal in the north, and even sub-sea turbines."


end