Success of Wind turbines
Success of Wind turbines
The month of June 2020 marked a hugh success for wind turbines in Scotland as they generated most of the 98% of the electricity demand. Other renewables generating the rest. The current production figures for 2023 have onshore wind farms producing 9,316 megawatts (MW) and 2,166 megawatts for offshore wind farms. By comparison Hydro produces 1,668 megawatts (MW). There is therefore 11,482 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy being produced by both onshore and offshore wind turbines. Wind power is the fastest growing of the various kinds of renewable technology being used in Scotland at the present time, The installed capacity of renewable energy in Scotland as of 2023 is 14,221 megawatts (MW) once Wave/Tidal, Bioenergy and Solar is added in. The average annual increase in renewable capacity has increased annually by 700 megawatts from 2010 onwards. In 2022 the installed capacity was up 1,621 megawatts from the previous year, the biggest increase since 2007.
New Wind Turbines on Hagshaw Hill
ScottishPower has announced that it is to replace the 26 older wind turbines at its site at Hagshaw Hill windfarm, South Lanarkshire. This was the first commercial windfarm to operate in Scotland. The new installation is expected to generate up to five times as much electricity as it did thirty years ago and to eventually to have a capacity of 79 megawatts (MW) . This is to be done with 14 larger turbines which will stand at a height of 200 metres. To help conserve any excess electricity produced there will also be a battery storage facility with a capacity of 20 megawatts (MW). There is considerable excitement in the Green Energy Industry about the great potential that the new, improved Wind turbine technology will bring by its replacing the older technology which has been around for up for to 30 years. In fact it is thought that three of the the new wind turbines could produce as much electricity as the present ScottishPower Hagshaw site. With the improved technology it will be possible to power over 60000 homes in the future. The site is expected to be operational by early 2025.