Green energy use up to 22%

NEARLY a quarter of Scotland's electricity demand was met by green sources last year, according to figures published yesterday.

The figure was hailed by environmental campaigners and by energy minister Jim Mather.

They said Scotland is on course to hit or exceed its target of meeting 31 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2011.

The latest figures from the Department of Energy showed that renewables accounted for 18 per cent of electricity generated in Scotland in 2008 and 22 per cent of electricity consumed in Scotland.