Scottish renewables cut 12 mln tonnes of CO2 emissions

The reduction of CO2 emissions amounts to almost 12 million tonnes, in the most recent year for which data is available, thanks to green energy in Scotland, it is stated in the Scottish Renewables’ press release.

The statistics were published in response to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Eilidh Whiteford MP and answered by UK Energy Minister Amber Rudd MP. An average reduction of around a million tonnes a month is the highest ever recorded in Scotland, the press release reads.

Rudd revealed that Scotland’s renewable electricity industry displaced 11.9 million tonnes of CO2 in 2013, an increase of over 14 percent on the 10.4 million tonnes of CO2 displaced in Scotland by the sector in 2012.

Joss Blamire, Senior Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “This means that not only are renewables now the number one source of electricity in Scotland, but we have achieved this milestone while preventing a record amount of harmful carbon emissions from being released into our atmosphere.”

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “That renewables in Scotland are now helping to displace almost a million tonnes of climate pollution every month is fantastic news, and proof that a renewable power sector is the foundation of a truly low carbon economy – keeping the lights on, creating jobs and cutting emissions.”

Image: Aquamarine Power/Illustration