The two pie charts provide a breakdown of the amount of electricity generated in Scotland from different energy sources twenty years ago and last year.
Overall, it is clear that coal remained the dominant source of electricity in both years, although its share declined noticeably. In contrast, the proportions of nuclear and renewable energy increased, reflecting a gradual shift towards cleaner energy production.
Twenty years ago, coal accounted for the largest share of electricity generation at 41.4%, followed by gas at 22.3% and nuclear energy at 19.6%. Hydro natural flow contributed 8.7%, while smaller amounts came from hydro pumped storage (3.1%), oil (2.1%), and other renewables (2.8%).
By last year, the share of coal had fallen to 32.7%, though it still produced the greatest proportion of electricity. Nuclear power rose sharply to 26.4%, overtaking gas, which experienced a slight fall to 21.7%. Meanwhile, other renewables almost doubled to 5.1%, indicating growing attention to sustainable sources. Oil output increased modestly to 4%, whereas hydro natural flow declined slightly to 7.9%.
In summary, although fossil fuels such as coal and gas continued to dominate electricity generation in Scotland, there was a clear movement towards nuclear and renewable sources, suggesting a positive trend in sustainable energy development.