ScottishPower Renewables has called on the UK government to back a net zero carbon target for 2050 on the 10th anniversary of the opening of its 539MW Whitelee wind farm on the outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland.
SPR chief executive Lindsay McQuade said: “We know that renewable energy generation needs to quadruple if we are to deliver on net zero.
“We also know that onshore wind is the cheapest form of green energy and therefore should be part of Scotland, and the UK’s, low carbon, cost effective electricity system.
“If we are to meet the target of net zero by 2050, our ambition has to be backed by political will and underpinned by legislation.
“Since the passing of the Climate Change Act in 2008, a number of progressive policy measures have been put in place that has enabled Scotland to become coal-free.
“Working with industry and government, the same approach is now needed to ensure we can continue to invest in much needed renewable generation and thereby achieve this objective, and support action to tackle the climate emergency facing us.
“Whitelee is a great example of what effective policy can deliver. The decarbonisation of our economy, transport and heating systems can all be achieved through existing technology but that has to include onshore wind if we are to decarbonise by 2050.”
An independent study into the impact of Whitelee by BVG Associates found that over the life of the wind farm, it will boost the UK economy by over £1bn, with over £790m in Scotland.
It also supported over 4000 jobs during its peak years of construction and sustains around 600 jobs every year through the operation and maintenance.
This creates the equivalent earnings in Scotland of £512m over the project’s lifetime, the report found.