Figures released in December showed nuclear accounted for 25.7% of the electricity generation fuel mix in Scotland in 2020 against 14.7% in England and Wales.
Gas accounted for around 70% of energy consumption in Scotland in 2020, and rose by 2.4% during the year.
The rise in Q2 output also reflected a 10.5% increase in renewables capacity, which was largely due to the giant Moray East windfarm in the Moray Firth becoming fully operational in September last year.
With the number of green energy jobs created in Scotland trailing well below expectations, Moray East could serve as a case study in how renewables activity in Scotland has swelled the coffers of corporations based outside Scotland.
Overseas supply chain players appear to have been the biggest beneficiaries of manufacturing and construction contracts related to Moray East.
The contract to make the turbine blades went to a venture formed by Mistubishi and Denmark’s Vestas, which noted the win would support expansion of its plant on the Isle of Wight.
The jackets that support the turbines were made by French and Belgian groups. Some of the work was completed at a plant in Newcastle, where around 500 jobs were supported by the contract.
Scottish firms played relatively minor roles. Completed jackets went to Global Energy’s facility at Nigg to be prepared for installation offshore.
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