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Electricity Generation by Source R: 2000-2006
Electricity generated (GigaWatt hours)
GigaWatt hours |
| 2000 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|
Nuclear | 16,918 | 18,394 | 18,013 | 18,681 | 14,141 |
|---|
Coal | 16,624 | 14,566 | 13,080 | 12,186 | 17,547 |
|---|
Gas and Oil | 11,274 | 12,059 | 13,307 | 11,273 | 13,755 |
|---|
Hydroelectric (natural flow) | 4,665 | 2,989 | 4,544 | 4,588 | 4,225 |
|---|
Other renewables 3 | 306 | 823 | 1,361 | 1,876 | 2,737 |
|---|
Hydroelectric (pumped storage) 4 | 613 | 670 | 786 | 643 | 1,184 |
|---|
Total generated | 50,401 | 49,501 | 51,091 | 49,246 | 53,609 |
|---|
Gross consumption 5 | 40,801 | 41,324 | 42,518 | 41,931 | 42,668 |
|---|
The combustion of fossil fuel, especially coal, is a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide is one of a basket of six greenhouse gases that the UK is committed to reduce under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
In 2006, Scotland generated 53,609 GWh of electricity, some 6% more than in 2000. The amount of electricity generated from coal increased by 44% in 2006, compared to 2005, while the amount generated by gas and oil increased by 22% in the same period.
Nuclear power does not emit greenhouse gases although its use raises other environmental issues. In 2006, as a result of unplanned outages at nuclear stations, electricity generated by nuclear fell by 24% compared with 2005.
Scotland generated 6,962 GWh of electricity from renewable sources in 2006. This equated to 16.3% of the gross consumption 5 of electricity in Scotland, compared with 12.2% in 2000. A target has been set that 50% of Scottish gross electricity consumption should come from renewable sources by 2020, with an interim target of 31% by 2011.
Source: Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
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