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The production of renewable energy in Scotland is an issue that has come to the fore in technical, economic, and political terms during the opening years of the 21st century.〔See for example: Scottish Executive (2005) ''Choosing Our Future: Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy.'' Edinburgh.〕 The natural resource base for renewable energy is extraordinary by European, and even global standards, with the most important potential sources being wind, wave, and tide. At the end of the third quarter in 2014, there was 7,112 megawatts (MW) of installed renewable electricity capacity in Scotland, an increase of 10.5% (or 671 MW) from the end of the second quarter in 2013. Renewable electricity generation in Scotland was 16,974 GWh in 2013, up 16.4% on 2012. 40.3 per cent of Scotland's electricity came from renewables in 2012. Scottish renewable generation makes up approximately 32% of total UK renewable generation (down from 36% in 2012). In 2012, Scotland exported over 26 per cent of generation. Continuing improvements in engineering and economics are enabling more of the renewable resources to be utilised. Fears regarding peak oil and climate change have driven the subject high up the political agenda and are also encouraging the use of various biofuels. Although the finances of many projects remain either speculative or dependent on market incentives, it is probable that there has been a significant, and in all likelihood long-term change, in the underpinning economics.〔Monbiot, George (2006) ''Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning''. London. Allen Lane.〕 In addition to planned increases in large-scale generating capacity and microsystems using renewable sources, various related schemes to reduce carbon emissions are being researched.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Peterhead hydrogen project )〕 Although there is significant support from the public, private and community-led sectors, concerns about the effect of the technologies on the natural environment have been expressed. There is also an emerging political debate about the relationship between the siting, and the ownership and control of these widely distributed resources.〔HICEC. (2006) (''Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company Annual Review'' ). (PDF). Inverness. Retrieved 31 August 2007.〕 == Realisation of the potential == The natural resource base for renewables is extraordinary by European, and even global standards. In addition to an existing installed capacity of 1.3 Gigawatts (GW) of hydro-electric schemes, Scotland has an estimated potential of 36.5 GW of wind and 7.5 GW of tidal power, 25% of the estimated total capacity for the European Union and up to 14 GW of wave power potential, 10% of EU capacity.〔Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland, World Wide Fund for Nature Scotland and Friends of the Earth Scotland (February 2006) (Briefing Paper 2006: The Power of Scotland: Cutting Carbon with Scotland's Renewable Energy ). RSPB et al.〕〔 The renewable electricity generating capacity may be 60 GW or more, considerably greater than the existing capacity from all Scottish fuel sources of 10.3 GW.〔〔Scottish Renewables (January 2006) ''Market and Planning Report''. Issue No 4.〕 Scotland exceeded its renewable energy target, set in 2007, for 31% of total power generation coming from renewables by 2011, and the 2020 target for the renewable share of total electricity generation has been raised from 50% to 100%. In January 2006 the total installed electrical generating capacity from all forms of renewable energy was less than 2 GW, about a fifth of the total electrical production.〔 By January 2007 wind power capacity, which has been growing rapidly, reached 1 GW capacity, and the total for renewables had grown to over 2.3 GW.〔 From this document 'Energy from Waste' is recorded as 61 MW.〕 By August 2009 wind power capacity was a fraction short of 1.5 GW and total renewables capacity had reached over 3.1 GW.〔(Home page ) Scottish Renewables. Retrieved 23 August 2009.〕 By mid-2011 these figures were 2.76 GW and 4.6 GW respectively.〔(Home page ) Scottish Renewables. Retrieved 23 July 2011.〕 In 2012, over 40 per cent of Scotland's electricity came from renewable energy, and Scotland contributed almost 40 per cent of the UK's renewables output. At the end of 2012, there was 5,801 megawatts (MW) of installed renewables electricity capacity in Scotland, an increase of 20.95 per cent (1,005 MW) on the end of 2011. Renewable electricity generation in 2012 was a record high at 14,756 GWh – an increase of 7.3 per cent on 2011, the previous record year for renewables output.〔 The bulk of electricity production is derived from gas and oil. 2002 figures used in RSPB Scotland ''et al.'' (2006) are gas (34%), oil (28%), coal (18%) and nuclear (17%), with renewables 3% (principally hydro-electric), prior to the substantial growth in wind power output. It should be borne in mind that electricity production is only part of the overall energy use budget. In 2002, Scotland consumed a total of 175 Terawatt-hours (TWh)〔A Gigawatt (GW) is a measure of productive capacity. Terawatt-hours (TWh) measure actual output. Thus, an 8GW power station operating ten hours per day will produce 8x10=80 TWh of electricity. Consistently over 50% of electricity generation in Scotland comes from Nuclear. Hunterston generates 800MW and Torness generates 1200MW. Whenever possible this article refers to predictions of maximum output in GW. Using energy productions in TWh might be more useful in some ways but would tend to obscure the underlying assumptions unless every reference included a measure for maximum output, capacity factor and assumed production, which might prove cumbersome. See also Summary of Scotland's resource potential Note a.〕 of energy in all forms, some 2% less than in 1990. Of this, only 20% was consumed in the form of electricity by end users, the great majority of energy utilised being from the burning of oil (41%) and gas (36%).〔AEA Technology. (January 2006) ''Scottish Energy Study''. Summary Report for the Scottish Executive. ISBN 0-7559-1308-6〕〔 The renewable energy industry supports more than 11,500 jobs in Scotland, according to a 2013 study by Scottish Renewables. However a 2011 study by 4-Consulting calculated that there was probably a small net loss in jobs in Scotland from government support for renewable energy. They estimated that the offshore wind industry might create between 300–2,200 long-term jobs by 2020.〔Marsh, Richard (March 2011) (Submission from 4-Consulting to the Scottish Parliament ) quoting from a report "Worth The Candle? The Economic Impact of Renewable Energy Policy in Scotland and the UK" Verso economics, Retrieved 27 March 2013〕 With 20 GW of renewable energy projects in the pipeline, the sector has the potential to grow quickly in the years ahead creating more jobs in the region. Glasgow, Fife and Edinburgh are key centres of offshore wind power development, and the emerging wave power and tidal power industries are centred around the Highlands and Islands. Rural job creation is being supported by bioenergy systems in areas such as Lochaber, Moray and Dumfries and Galloway. Scotland also has significant quantities of fossil fuel deposits, including 62.4% of the EU's proven reserves of oil, 12.5% of the EU's proven reserves of gas and 69% of UK coal reserves.〔''A Scottish Energy Review''. (November 2005) Scottish National Party Framework Paper. Edinburgh.〕 Nonetheless, the Scottish Government has set ambitious targets for renewable energy production. In 2005 the aim was for 18% of Scotland's electricity production to be generated by renewable sources by 2010, rising to 40% by 2020.〔''Scotland's Renewable Energy Potential: Realising the 2020 Target—Future Generation Group Report'' (2005) Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS). Edinburgh. ISBN 0-7559-4721-5〕 In 2007 this was increased to 50 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2020, with an interim target of 31 per cent by 2011.〔("Renewable energy potential" ) (27 November 2007) The Scottish Government. Retrieved 2 February 2009.〕 The following year new targets to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 were announced and then confirmed in the 2009 Climate Change Delivery Plan. Maf Smith, director of the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland said "Governments across the world are shying away from taking the necessary action. The Scottish Government must be commended for its intention to lead the way".〔MacDonnel, Hamish (30 January 2008) "Scotland aims to lead world in global warming battle". Edinburgh. ''The Scotsman".〕〔("Clean, green energy" ) (17 June 2009) Scottish Government. Retrieved 23 August 2009.〕 An important reason for this ambition is growing international concern about human-induced climate change. The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's proposal that carbon dioxide emissions should be reduced by 60% was incorporated into the UK government's 2003 Energy White Paper.〔 The 2006 Stern Review proposed a 55% reduction by 2030.〔Stern, Sir Nicholas (2006) ''The Economics of Climate Change''. London. HM Treasury. ISBN 0-521-70080-9〕 The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fourth Assessment Report〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) )〕 has further increased the profile of the issue.〔The press reports are voluminous. See for example: "A Winter Wonderland" (10 December 2006) Edinburgh. ''Scotland on Sunday''.; "Final Warning" (3 February 2007) London. ''The Independent''.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Renewable energy in Scotland」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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