In the ongoing debate about nuclear or wind for Scotland’s energy future, there still seems to be confusion between energy and electricity.
Electricity is not a source of energy. It is simply a convenient form of energy. Less than 20% of the energy we use is in the form of electricity.
Therefore, the biggest challenge we face is to find replacements for the 80% of energy we use for heating and transport. As yet, the Scottish and UK governments have no targets or strategy for renewable heat and fuel.
A recent circular from a top civil servant in the Scottish energy unit compounds this confusion by stating that we are aiming to produce “50% of Scottish energy demand from renewables by 2020”. Actually, the target is 50% of electricity.
Kerr MacGregor, 31 Temple Village, Midlothian.
27 December 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/12/27/energy-confusion/