Wind energy is already a significant source of energy, with 11% of the energy used in Scotland in 2009 coming from wind power. There are compelling reasons to increase the proportion of wind energy in Scotland and the UK.
Electricity demand is forecast to increase in the UK over the next 30 years, while the production of oil and gas from the North Sea has peaked. This leaves the UK vulnerable because to generate power in conventional power stations it will need to supply gas and oil from unstable regions.
The UK has the best wind resource in Europe, and Scotland has the best resource in the UK. This makes it an ideal place in which to utilise alternative energy sources that are not dependant on overseas suppliers. At present other renewable forms of power are not suitable for large scale generation. Hydropower cannot be significantly expanded because of a lack of suitable sites and the climate is not suitable for solar. Nuclear power generation is controversial and cannot be deployed fast enough to provide power we need in the next 10 years.
Renewable energy will play an essential part of reducing the UK's carbon emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by the year 2050. This action is in order to reduce the impact of rising global temperatures that are a result of antrhopogenic increases in CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Wind turbines generate electricity without releasing CO2, thereby reducing the amount of electricity produced by more carbon intensive sources of power generation, such as coal and gas.
While other other low carbon energy sources are likely to be required to reduce CO2 emissions wind power is the most cost effective option and can be deployed relatively quickly to meet the energy gap, unlike alternatives such as nuclear which have very long lead times.
Further information can be found on the links page