Scotland’s wind farms will triple in number within years but still leave the country facing a gruelling uphill struggle to meet its climate change targets, according to figures released as the UN climate change summit opens today.
The Herald understands plans are under way to increase the country’s total from 1131 turbines to at least 3855, with nearly 1000 already given consent or under construction.
But if the Scottish Government is to meet its ambitious goals on carbon emissions, even more growth in the renewable energy sector will be needed, creating further tensions between developers, residents and conservation groups.
Several large wind farm developments have met with fierce opposition in the past year, and thousands of local campaigners joined groups such as the RSPB and the John Muir Trust in attacking plans for huge new developments in the Shetland Isles and elsewhere.
But despite the rapid growth of onshore wind farms, Government planners and environmental charities maintain that Scotland still has plenty of space for expansion.
Permission was granted last week for 13 new turbines in South Lanarkshire, and three dozen more major renewable energy applications are being considered. Scotland has set a 42% cut from 1990-level emissions by 2020 and an 80% cut by 2050.
Ed Miliband, the UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary, warned yesterday that politicians globally have a “mountain to climb” to convince voters of the need for action.
