The UK’s energy distributor has warned there is “no guarantee” renewable power generated in an independent Scotland would be bought by England and Wales.
The National Grid said it was unable to predict the market due to uncertainty over Scotland’s constitutional future.
Commercial director Alison Kay added that UK targets to produce 20% of all energy and 30% of electricity from renewables by 2020 would be still be met even if Scotland became independent.
The news is a fresh blow to the SNP government in Edinburgh which is relying on exports to pay an annual £4billion needed to generate enough green energy to meet ambitious targets.
The Press and Journal revealed last week that one of the world’s largest financial organisations, Citigroup, has told its clients to exercise “extreme caution” over investing in renewable projects.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has also warned that the Scottish Government’s policy could increase fuel poverty and force the country to buy more energy than it sells.
Ms Kay, who said a mix of wind, marine and nuclear power was desirable, said nobody “really knew” what form the electricity market would take in an independent Scotland.
“We will have to look at whatever system is put in place which will depend on what we buy,” she added.
Labour leader Iain Gray claimed Ms Kay’s remark’s “fatally” undermined the SNP’s energy policy.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs last week that the UK Government would need Scottish renewables to get anywhere near the energy obligations that it has to meet.
“The price that it pays for that Scottish energy, particularly in the post-renewables obligation certificate era, will reflect that,” she added.
Ms Sturgeon said firms had invested £750million in renewables projects in the last year.
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