Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) – a division of leading energy firm Scottish and Southern Energy Plc, has confirmed that electricity output on Sunday (August 29, 2010) from wind farms across the north of Scotland exceeded the demand for electricity from homes and businesses in the area for the first time.
Between 8am and 9am electricity output from wind farms totalling just over 700MW (megawatts) exceeded the demand from customers which was just under 700MW in the areas served by SSEPD – SSEPD delivers electricity in the north of Scotland to areas covering Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness, through underground cables and overhead lines.
Reporting on the output, Alan Broadbent, head of engineering SSE Power Distribution, remarked:
“Last month’s Annual Energy Statement to Parliament reiterated the important role that renewable energy will have to play in meeting demand for energy in the years ahead. Yesterday’s milestone demonstrates that wind farms can produce substantial amounts of energy, as part of a diverse mix, and that electricity networks can accommodate it”
The plant continued to generate electricity throughout the period, with the surplus electricity distributed to meet demand in other parts of Great Britain’s electricity network.
