Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has questioned the feasibility of wind energy to meet our electricity needs as figures released from the Department for Energy and Climate Change show that despite a 30% increase in installed wind capacity, energy generation from these sources grew by only 11%.
As of the first quarter of 2013 there are 6 GW of installed renewables in Scotland, yet a further 8 GW are required to meet the Scottish Government’s ambitious 2020 renewable energy targets.
Furthermore wind energy load factors decreased from 28.5% in 2011 to 27% in 2012 and the Q1 2013 wind power load factor is down by 5% on Q1 in 2012.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said;
“These statistics are illustrative of the fundamental flaws of flooding our landscape with wind turbines. A 29.8% increase in onshore wind has made too small a contribution towards meeting our energy needs, furthermore wind turbine load factors are decreasing year on year.
“Building more onshore wind turbines cannot solve the intermittency issues created by a lopsided energy policy that is becoming over-reliant on wind power.
“Wind power is responsible for nearly 70% of the current Scottish Renewables portfolio.
“The intermittency of wind power is still without solution and until that is met, Scotland or any other nation cannot realistically move to wind power without significant reserves of inefficiently run back up power generation.
“Building more onshore wind farms is not the solution, and the Scottish Government must consider diversifying the energy generation mix for a more balanced energy policy.”