Scotland is one of the leading countries in the world for wind energy. In 2020, it produced so much wind and nuclear energy that it only used fossil fuel for less than a tenth of the grid’s output needs! Scotland’s onshore and offshore wind power are drivers of its renewable energy goals.
Where are the windiest places in the UK?
8 of the top 10 windiest counties in the UK are in Scotland. Top of the list is Shetland and Orkney, while Isle of Wright, England, placed 10th.
According to the 1981 to 2010 UK annual mean wind speed, Scotland is the windiest country in the UK.
| UK County | Average Wind Speed (knots) |
|---|---|
| Shetland | 14.6 |
| Orkney | 14.3 |
| Western Isles | 12.6 |
| Argyll and Bute | 12.1 |
| Gwynedd | 11.3 |
| Tweeddale | 11.0 |
| Ross and Cromarty | 10.9 |
| Banffshire | 10.9 |
| Sutherland | 10.8 |
| Isle of Wight | 10.7 |
This wind pattern is primarily because of the west to southwesterly winds throughout the North Sea.
Compared to England, the onshore wind turbines of Scotland have the benefit of stronger winds, with more ample space due to low population density. Scotland has fewer areas with little to no wind at all. The areas with strong wind speeds are compact and close to each other, making them suitable for onshore wind farms.
How many wind turbines does Scotland have?
An estimated 1,500 turbines are operational in Scotland. Still, The Highlands Council provides a comprehensive and more precise map with a list of its turbines and each status.
The Highlands Council reports 2.5 gigawatts of installed capacity from 1,166 turbines.
What is the value of Scotland’s wind sector?
Scotland’s renewable sector delivers £5 billion annually to its economy and employs 22,650 workers.
In 2020, its renewable electricity exports were worth £0.76 billion in payments from England and Northern Ireland. Most of these exports were from onshore wind farms, but offshore wind farms also contributed.
In the same year, according to the Scottish Renewables, more than 60% of electricity generated in Scotland is from renewables.
Also, in Scotland’s renewable energy sector in 2021, wind farms generated three times as much electricity as renewable hydro, biomass, and solar PV. This amounted to 19.9 terawatt hours out of 27.2 terawatt hours of electricity produced from all renewable sources.
This wind power production is almost four times as hydropower alone.
Scottish wind power also enabled Scotland to export 37% of its electricity generated (including non-renewables) to England and Ireland.
Regarding the contribution of jobs to the economy, the 2022 Offshore Wind Industry Council report shows that 30% of employment in the UK’s floating wind sector is in Scotland.
Moreover, some of the biggest renewable energy companies are invested in Scotland’s wind energy industry, including Scottish Power Renewables, SSE Renewables, and Equinor.
What are the offshore wind farms in Scotland?
From newest to oldest, the offshore wind farms in Scotland are Beatrice, Aberdeen EOWDC, Hywind Scotland, Fife Demo, and Robin Rigg.
| Wind Farm | Commissioned Date | Installed Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Beatrice | 2019 | 588 MW |
| Aberdeen EOWDC | 2018 | 93 MW |
| Hywind Scotland | 2017 | 30 MW |
| Fife Demo | 2014 | 7 MW |
| Robin Rigg | 2010 | 174 MW |
Hywind Scotland was the largest floating wind array at commissioning, with a 30 MW installed capacity. It has become a forerunner to Scotland’s now largest floating wind farm, Hywind Tampen.
The wind turbine generators are connected to offshore substations before landfall and connect to the grid. In the future, Scotland will install more floating wind turbines farther into the sea.
Who is The Crown Estate Scotland?
Crown Estate Scotland acts as a manager for the assets of the Scottish Crown according to the Scottish Crown Estate Act of 2019. The power delegated to its authorized officers is to transact on behalf of the monarch. Crown Estate Scotland leases out the property and land, including the seabed, to developers for profit and Scotland’s economic development.
In 2017, Crown Estate Scotland was formally created and authorized by Scotland Act 2016 to receive the functions from Crown Estate commissioners, reporting to the Her Majesty’s Treasury. The responsibilities of Crown Estate Scotland pertain only to Scottish zones and their rights. The Scottish purse keeps all profits from leasing rounds.
Crown Estate Scotland is a public corporation with subsidiaries and joint ventures. To date, some of its most successful ventures are leasing land and seabed for offshore wind developers in Scotland.
What is ScotWind?
ScotWind is the first major leasing round of Crown Estate Scotland that produced 25 GW of applications and proposals from major industry players. The crown estate netted almost £700 million from 70 participants and awarded seabed option agreements to 17 winners.
Where is Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm?
Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm is the largest fixed foundation wind farm in Scotland.
For floating windfarms, Scotland had set a record. Hywind Scotland is one of the largest offshore wind projects in the world at 30 MW. It is also the first commercial floating wind farm in the world.
The turbines at Hywind Scotland are a staggering 175 meters above sea level from the highest tip of the turbine blades.
Who owns the Scottish seabed?
Crown Estate Scotland leases the seabed rights to develop offshore wind farms in Scottish zones.
Is Scotland 100% renewable?
Scotland may be able to get to 100% low carbon shortly, but going 100% renewables means they have to stop exporting electricity to England and Northern Ireland.
However, at times the demand from England and Northern Ireland is greater than Scotland’s, and exporting electricity to these countries is needed to make the wind farms sustainable.
According to the Scotland government website, Scotland exported 19.3 terawatt hours of electricity from renewable sources in 2020.
Therefore, 12.4 terawatt hours of renewables were generated and utilized in Scotland in 2020, and Scotland exported the remaining energy.
With the upcoming leasing round in Scotland and the offshore wind pipelines in the country, including the 25 GW first Scotwind leasing round, Scotland can go 100% renewables after commissioning.
In the meantime, Scotland still consumes energy from fossil fuels to complement its low carbon sources, which made up 85.6% of its electricity consumption in 2021.