Scottish and Southern on course for renewable target

Of the big energy firms, only Scottish and Southern is on track to exceed government renewables targets.

The firm already generates 10.2 per cent of its electricity through renewable mechanisms, though government targets require 9.1 per cent of each firm's energy to be renewable by March 2009.

By 2016, companies are expected to generate 15.4 per cent of their electricity using renewable sources.

However, most of the big companies seem to be a long way from meeting those targets.

According to figures fro electricityinfo.org, npower generates just three per cent of it electricity renewably, while E.on is on 3.6 per cent.

The figures also reveal a heavy dependency on coal, and that companies whose fuel mix is more weighted towards the fossil fuel have higher carbon emissions.

Scottish Power, which burns coal for 55.2 per cent of its energy production, is the worst emitter, with 0.63 kg per kWh.