Wind power plays a key role in curbing greenhouse emissions from other energy sources such as coal and gas, a new study has shown.
Edinburgh University researchers studied National Grid figures for power generated by sources including wind, coal and gas between 2008 and 2014.
The university claimed the study suggests UK government figures underestimate carbon savings from wind turbines by 3.4m tonnes. The study also claims the method used by the Scottish government overestimates the savings.
They said the study suggests wind power could play a key role in meeting the Uk’s future energy needs and the methodology used could be applied to give accurate estimates of possible future emissions savings.
The findings show that wind plays an effective role in curbing emissions that would otherwise be generated from conventional sources, and it has a key role to play in helping to meet Britain’s need for power in future.
WWF Scotland’s director, Lang Banks, said: ‘It’s great to finally have an independent and authoritative study that puts a more accurate figure on the massive amounts of climate-damaging carbon emissions being avoided thanks to wind power.
A spokesman for the UK government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: ‘We have made a firm commitment to a low-carbon future, and our recent ratification of the historic Paris agreement shows we are serious about global action on climate change.’