The provided pie charts depict the distribution of electricity generation by various energy sources in Scotland, comparing data from 20 years ago to that of the most recent year.
Overall, the data reveals significant shifts in the proportions of electricity generated from different energy sources over the two decades, with a notable transition towards nuclear and renewable sources.
Twenty years ago, coal was the predominant source of electricity in Scotland, accounting for 41.4% of total generation. Following coal, nuclear energy contributed 19.9%, while natural gas comprised 22.3% of the total electricity output. Renewable energy sources were represented by hydro natural flow at 8.7%, hydro pumped storage at 3.1%, other renewables at 2.8%, and oil at a mere 2.1%. This distribution underscores a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal and gas, for electricity generation at that time.
In contrast, the data from last year indicates a substantial decrease in the percentage of electricity generated from coal, which fell to 32.7%. Although gas showed a slight decline to 21.7%, nuclear energy saw a significant increase to 26.4%, emerging as a central component of Scotland’s energy mix. Furthermore, renewable energy sources exhibited a marked enhancement, with other renewables rising from 2.8% to 5.1%, hydro natural flow increasing to 7.9%, and oil also experiencing growth to 4.0%. However, hydro pumped storage slightly diminished to 2.2%. These changes reflect Scotland’s evolving energy strategy and a shift towards more sustainable energy practices.