Scotland in 'Green Energy Revolution'

A greater amount of gas and electricity will soon be produced through renewable means in Scotland, the Guardian reports.

The "green energy revolution" is being planned by the Scottish government, whose first minister Alex Salmond is expected to adopt the recommendations of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development over months to come. In turn, this could mean that Scotland would be generating around 50 per cent of the nation's energy produced through wind, solar and hydroelectric power generation by 2020.

This dwarfs the UK government's own pre-stated target of 20 per cent of power being generated through renewables by this time. Several hydroelectric projects, including a 200MW station currently being built at three separate sites by Scottish and Southern Energy, are already under construction in Scotland to help meet the target.

Currently, around 12 per cent of the nation's electricity is generated through hydro.

Speaking to the newspaper, professor of water engineering at Glasgow University Alan Ervine said: "Hydro is a well-known technology. It's something we know how to do; we can power it up and do it effectively in Scotland, compared to the risk-taking which is involved with wind, wave and tidal turbines."

Scottish energy minister Jim Mather has previously described himself "desperately enthusiastic" about hydro power.